Poems from The Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project

 

The Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project is a therapeutic writing program for youth who are homeless, incarcerated, in residential psychiatric care, or in other ways leading difficult lives. Pongo’s trained volunteers go inside shelters, detention centers, etc., to lead six-month writing projects. An interesting aspect of this work is that Pongo’s young authors often use their poetry to describe experiences that they've had difficulty talking about previously – experiences such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, and violent death.

 

It's hard sometimes for people to hear the sadness in the youth poetry, but Pongo is very clear in describing the positive benefits of writing for its authors. Youth are ecstatic and proud to complete their poems. They share their completed poems with therapists, family, and other youth. After writing their personal poetry, the young people will talk about their life issues with less shame. They have breakthroughs in their treatment. And they learn to use poetry writing as a constructive way to deal with future problems.

 

The Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project is a ten-year-old nonprofit located in Seattle, Washington. Every Pongo writing project culminates in the publication of a youth poetry book. Pongo has published 11 books to date. Its latest books are "How Tucked in the Corner Was Sadness" and “My Passion Leaps Out Toward the World,” both from King County juvenile detention in Seattle. Pongo gives away 80% of its (1,000 books per year) to youth, therapists, judges, libraries, etc.

 

You can read more about Pongo on its web site - www.pongopublishing.org . Here are several poems from Pongo’s latest books:

 

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POEMS FROM "HOW TUCKED IN THE CORNER WAS SADNESS"

[The authors’ names have been changed to protect their confidentiality.]

 

 

HOW TUCKED IN THE CORNER by Chuck (age 13)

 

You see that I’m alone

You see that I steal

But you don’t know me.

 

You would know me if

You knew how hard it was to live alone

You knew how love has hurt me

You knew your mom didn’t love you.

 

You see that I smoke

You see that I fight

But you don’t know me.

 

You would know me if

You knew how I turn emotions to haze

You knew how I don’t fear death

You knew how tucked in the corner was sadness.

 

 

THE GIRL INSIDE by Amelie (age 17)

 

I am a happy girl jumping up and down

I am somebody who doesn’t eat any of her vegetables

I am lightning and thunder

I am an empty room

I am a whole bunch of kids throwing rocks at

another kid

I am a parent holding her baby for the first time

I am a contorted face that only sees red and black

I am the ugliest wallpaper in the prettiest house

I am the most interesting book cover

I am a girl teasing a guy

I am somebody crying with her face all red and

bunched up

I am the girl that doesn’t show her feelings

on the outside

 

 

HOW I FEEL by Julian (age 15)

 

Pain is what I brought to my family.

Pain is not being able to get away when I want to.

Pain is slimy darkness.

 

Heartache feels like broken bones.

Heartache is tripping over a pebble

just before the finish line

when you were first.

Heartache sounds like cries of pain.

 

Stress feels like thousands of pounds

pushing against your chest.

Stress is wanting to play basketball when you have to

do homework.

Stress is trying to climb out of a box full of troubles

that pull you back in.

 

A circle is a never-ending tragedy.

A circle is a walk back to square one.

A circle is a path I walk,

never being able to get to

the other side.

 

 

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POEMS FROM "MY PASSION LEAPS OUT TOWARD THE WORLD"

[The authors’ names have been changed to protect their confidentiality.]

 

 

NOT FEELING CARED FOR by Larissa (age 16)

 

I feel alone

Like a deer that’s just been born

But its mom died

Like the only flower

In a field

Like a pool of water

In the middle of the desert

 

I feel deserted

Like an open piece of candy on the shelf

That nobody wants to buy

Like a box of kittens

And I’m the last one in the litter to be picked

Like an un-ironed pair of pants

That nobody wants to wear

 

I feel the need for love

A squeeze of lemon in my glass of water

A breeze on a warm summer’s eve

A whisper in your ear that tickles

 

 

TOO YOUNG STRESS by Jewell (age 14)

 

Alcohol

Because my mom

Drank

And I had to raise her

 

Peer pressure

Because there were too many

Parties at my house

And I was pressured

Into drugs, alcohol, and sex

 

Survival

We didn’t have any money

For food

It all went to booze

 

Abandonment

I was always scared

That my mom wouldn’t be there

 

       Embrace your childhood

       Because once it’s gone…

 

 

NUMB by Sherrie (age 13)

 

I keep waking up with scratches on my arms,

but I don’t move when I sleep.

I don’t understand it –

maybe like you don’t understand me.

 

I’m in a weird place in my life.

You can say you love me,

but I don’t feel love

because I’m numb.

 

I’m numb right now

because of my rape, my sister’s rape,

losing my father, gaining a new friend,

my sister being so far away,

& not being with my brother.

 

Being locked down has taught me

that being mean & hateful about the world,

& toward my family & my father,

is not how I wanna live my life.

 

This place that everybody hates

has changed me for the better.

I hope my poem will help you understand me.

 

 

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