It is Not Like it Used to Be

by Ricky G., grade 8

It is not like it used to be
The fresh wind, the clear blue sky
We could breathe clean air
Without getting sick with any pollutants
We had the freedom to fly everywhere, and anywhere
Our life was just perfect
But it all has changed

All of a sudden pollution started
It has changed our way of living
The fresh air is not fresh anymore
It is stale and stuffy
And the clear blue sky is neither clear nor blue
It is thick and gray
It all has changed

Even the ocean, the place that we enjoy the most,
Is getting contaminated with trash
What have humans done to planet Earth?
It is unhealthy for us to live in this environment
And it is affecting everyone living in the world
Animals, plants, and us, seagulls
It all has changed

How can we continue living in these terrible conditions?
If everywhere we fly is contaminated?
If everywhere we swim is polluted?
How will our future generations live this way?
Humans need to correct their mistake
Because the way we are now living…
It is not like it used to be

There was Once a Beautiful Place

by Raquel A., grade 8

There used to be a time, when the world was a friendly place.
A place with pure nature, full of joy and care.
Where the clear and fresh air danced around my mass.
And where the sweet and clear waters traveled along my end.

Those times were so great.
It was a pleasant life.
But now things have changed.

Nobody expected it so fast, even though there were warnings.
Oh, but if the great masters would ´ve done something,
we wouldn´t be suffering.

The world is now a different place.
Where the air is not clean, and with color gray.
It´s a place of deception, and failure.
A place with no joy and care.
Those great masters' cruelty and frailty.
Were the ones that made the world, an atrocious home.

Back then, this place was a jungle of adventure and survival.
Those times, when there were no people on earth.
It was a place with no harm, a place full of peace.
but once the masters arrived, their ambitious souls
made them turn the world to something frightful.

It all happened in the morning.
The sun was rising high in the sky, and the day looked like any other.
At mid-morning the sun was covered by a gloomy and gray atmosphere.
There was no light at all, and we were all wondering what was happening.
Was it an eclipse?
An equinox?
A solstice?
No… no… no…
The street was a desert covered with silent shrieks of help.
It was a time when the world received its peace again.
A time when the masters finally confronted their friendly place.

After there was no more light,
the electric powers disappeared.
Everyone was in panic.
Political leaders tried to find what was happening,
but they didn´t understand their mistakes.
After noon, everyone was almost settled, until the dusty and solid ground started shaking.
That was the time when they finally realized their mistakes.
Until then, the masters where able to change.
When the catastrofee was occurring, they were capable of regretting their actions.
Until then, the masters where able to be sorry for their selfishness.

It’s Fishing Season

by Paulina P., grade 8

It’s fishing season
Sharp hooks are everywhere
As I pass them I hear humans yelling:
“Here comes a fish!”
Well, don’t think I’m a fool
I won’t grab the worm
I know I’m food
But I also know that humans are not here for food
But entertainment

I’m starving
I haven’t found plankton anywhere
Those juicy worms  are really a temptation
But I must resist
To reach salvation

My friends are falling into the humans trick
There goes another one
He gets pulled up quick
What lies above?
Cruelty and death
Not love

Some are put back
Bleeding
Waiting to die
We can’t do anything except say goodbye
I’m sure it’s all a competition
To see whose fish gets put on exhibition

I wonder if I could just get a bit of that worm
Then, I would swim as fast as I can
And the hook wouldn’t catch me

Slowly, I’m getting closer
I grab the worm
And I try to pull and go away
But I can’t
I’m stuck
The hook’s got me
Then I hear, “I got one!”
I’m pulled up and I can’t breathe
I'm suffocating

I see lots of families laughing and having fun
What a great pastime
To kill us, even if they don’t need us
And then they will ask how we became an endangered species
When they are to blame

Forever Clear and Blue

by Maria T., grade 8


I appear peaceful and blue
but most people don't have a clue
they throw trash and waste too
and continue to pollute.


I feel sad and sick
and I don't want to be extinct,
but as pollution invades me in a blink
I fear for my survival and I fear to be seen
because it seems I'm turning green!


People gossip as they come,
many things need to be done
in order to save my endangered soul.
I just float here waiting for all
to take a stand and share one goal
and I hope I'm not alone
so they can clean me after all.


It is wonderful to wake up
each new day comes with new hope
to find a cure and reverse all
so I can feel myself once more.


I can't wait for all my waters
to be cleaned and feel brand new,
 to be crystal clear and blue.
So I can shine with the sun
blow with the wind
and glare at the moon.


All it takes is for people to care
and try to always be aware
of their actions to respect
and be able to protect
this lake for all to share.


So all I ask is for a chance
to tell everyone to stop polluting at once!
to work together to preserve
my waters clean and safe,
for every species here and there
and for all who come my way,
to feel enjoyment everyday.


Still I wait here in neglect
as magnificent volcanoes around me reflect
all their beauty and grand extraordinaire
on the peaceful waters of my despair.

Save Us

by J.P., grade 8


Why do you cut us?
We give you hope
We give you clean air
We help you

But you torture us
You disrespect us
You cut down our families and friends
You make us suffer

Even though we are a unit
We are together
We need to work together
But it seems you hate us

There is still hope though
We can follow the circle of life
You help us
And we help you

But I don't think that will happen
Your ignorance is incredible
You only care for yourselves
You think you are greater

But you are not
Everything in this planet is connected
In order to support each other
And have great balance

You help someone
Yo receive help from someone
It's that simple
We still have a chance

All you have to do is
Preserve and respect us
Become my friends
You can plant more of us
You can help us grow

Just like some good people
That help me grow
I am really healthy
I am growing steadily

And if you do that to my friends
And my family
Then we could all be safe
In perfect harmony

You can do that
With your human friends too
Create friends
Not enemies

Help us ,trees, to
Save this planet
But we all have to help
Save nature and resources
And save us

Let's cure this Earth
Like friends
Not enemies
Let's restore balance

I Remain

I
give, share, provide -
You take, use, and
Consume me whole.

I
grow, dig deep, reach out -
You gnaw, shallowly saw, and
Cut me down.

I
renew, replenish, clean -
You poison me with ignorance and
Fill me with mindless waste.

I
breath, exist, sustain -
You breathe to exist yet
Suffocate and smother me in pursuit.

I
weep, warn, even surrender -
You dig, persist, and
Rape me from the inside out.

I
weep
breathe
renew
grow
give
to remain.

Me Myself and I

by Paula I., Grade 9

I can't tell you how to live your life
Nor can you mom or your dad
Or any friend you ever had.
There will be sometimes when you feel lost
But pretending to be others is not the way to go
because you are special and you have your own glow.
Some people become envious of this glow you have
So they will tell you things,
that will make things go bad.
It's because of this that you should always listen to advice
But if you don't like it
don't do it,
I cant tell you how to live your life
But this is some advice from me to you,
You can take it or leave it if you want
But there are three people that will always be there for me is
Me Myself and I

Yourself

By Maria P., Grade 9

Don´t feign love
friendship or
happiness

Be yourself,
express what you feel

Don´t follow other people's paths
Make your own path

Life is full of disappointments,
open the curtains,
whip the tears off
and see the new world

Don´t be neurotic
Be unfettered

You are the writer,
of your own story.

Dear fellow friend

By Sabrina R., Grade 9

Dear fellow friend,
Life`s a maze
You´ll never find the end…
But you will find the present
You will find yourself stuck in it,
Or better said,
you will see yourself enjoying it,
never try to look beyond,
never try to look back
but do feel the breeze,
that´s passing right through you,
at that moment…

Life´s not about the apple you will reach,
Life´s not about what if…
What if I fall in the climb?
Life´s about how you reach the apple,
How you climb
Each step you take,
How much force you exert between each step,
Between each obstacle,
Each challenge,
Each memory.

I wonder if you´ve heard,
That second guessing retains your will,
The will that comes from your heart,
Not from who surrounds you,
Not from exterior influences.

Believe in yourself.
Believe.
Don´t second guess,
Live the present moment,
Feel the breeze go through your skin.
Feel it.

Teenage Advice

by Maria M., Grade 9

Don't take things for granted
Don't try to be ambidextrous if you are not
You can't do everything, you know
Don't do things that give you a bad feeling
Say what you need to say
Eat as much chocolate as you want
Never buy drugs, because you could be supporting Al Qaeda
Don't stay places where you get bad vibes
Do what you want
Don't let others change the way you think
Eat delicious food
Make a scene if you feel like it
Don't pretend or fake ANYTHING
Exercise
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery
If you really want it, you can achieve it.
Be fair
Never trust anyone too much
Don't tell other people's secrets to anyone
Live in the now
Who cares about rumors?
Never lie to your best friend
Ignore people that annoy you
Try to do your homework the day it is given
Never eat skittles on a road trip
Don't try to make people like you, if they don't they won't
Try your best all the time
Be clean
Don't waste too much time on Facebook
Always have a plan
Everything ends.