APRIL 2022 ISSUE: “Impossible Is Nothing“ BY Fifth-graders from Franklin Elementary
Impossible Is Nothing
by fifth-graders from Franklin Elementary
For us right here, nothing is impossible.
Impossible is nothing.
I close my eyes.
I imagine I was in the middle
Of space with the stars, reading.
I hear cars drive down the street
And feel rain on my skin.
I see all genders and say all pronouns.
I open my eyes.
My moving feet jump up and down
And touch the living earth.
The tiger spirit waters Franklin’s grounds.
We are protectors of this school.
Imposible es nada
Estudiantes de quinto año de la escuela primaria Franklin
Para nosotros aquí, nada es imposible.
Nada es imposible.
Cierro mis ojos.
Imagino que estoy en el centro
del espacio con estrellas, leyendo.
Escucho carros por la calle
Y siento la lluvia en mi piel.
Veo todos los géneros y digo todos los pronombres.
Abro mis ojos.
Mis pies en movimiento saltan arriba y abajo
Y tocan la tierra viva.
El espíritu del tigre riega los terrenos de la escuela Franklin
Somos protectores de esta escuela.
THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY FRANKLIN FIFTH-GRADERS
Adrienne, Amy, Angel, Anna, Brandon, Brianna, Ghadeer, Gerardo, Ismail, Itzel, Janely, Johnecia, Joy, Kleimer, Lam, Lisa, Mia, Mimi, Pino, Sayed, Sergio, Shya, Trustin, and Victoria
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
In fall of 2021, teaching artist Giovanna Lomanto taught a fifth-grade poetry workshop at Franklin Elementary. Students wrote descriptive poetry centered around the theme of embodiment, and tested out our collection of poetry prompts for this year’s upcoming Write Your Roots Day. Their writing will be the first contribution to our third annual all-town poem, titled Because This Body. Their collaborative poem was memorialized at the entryway of Franklin Elementary by local muralist Ryoko Tokuho.