2012–2013

Layla Depmore (cover)Lucia Estrada (right)

T R A V I S E L E M E N T A R Y , H O U S T O N , T E X A S

P O E T R Y + A R T B O O K

2Not Good

My hair this morning...not Good...

My sister in the car this morning...not Good...

My class losing recess...not Good...

My dog whining all night...not Good...

Maybe tomorrow will be...not Bad....

Isabella Mueller

Jack Salazar

3Random Thoughts

Poetry is silly news abouta magical alligator thateats yellow apples.

Democracy does notlike fat Albert because he takes up too muchspace.

Jacob Flores

Kate Landaverde

4

Harry Bause

5

Then and Now

I used to be the reportbut now I’m the book.

I used to be one in the whole worldbut now I take up half of it.

I used to be the tomato saucebut now I’m the pizza.

I used to be a blockbut now I’m a rubber band.

I used to be a pencilbut now I’m a pen.

I used to be nothingbut now I’m more than something.

I used to be a foot soldierbut now I’m a marshall.

I used to be a pennybut now I’m a quarter.

I used to be a suburbbut now I’m in the White House.

I used to be a letterbut now I’m a dictionary.

I used to be the sidekickbut now I’m the Superhero.

I used to be a sizzlebut now I’m a bonfire.

Alex Yankowsky

6

Green Goo Mystery

In a river of swampy dark colors and 88 pondsWhere alligators slithered to a swampy lifeAnd frog’s hearts deepen into the devil’s eyes. Devil’s eyes go dark like a rose, The sun dives into an eclipse,

And monsters slowly go after the frogs that look like apples As they swarm into A cloud of dust.

Selena Taylor

Hannah McClure

7

I love to dance

I love to danceI love to wiggle.When I hear the music Istart to giggle.It starts with my feet andI just can’t help myself.I wish I could dance on the ceiling and onto the shelf.If I could I would dance all nightunder the stars shining so bright.Into the morning I would leap.But maybe I should just rest and get some sleep.

Hannah Marmo

Natalie Garcia

8

Henry Gibbs

9Foggy Morning

It is 7:30 this morning and I am outsidethere is a fog a heavy fog just like a sea a sea all ghostly white a sea that has been liftedlifted by the gods of the skyand set down by the gods of the groundin the middle of the night some people stole some waterI wake up the next morning and look out the windowand there is what is left. fog, heavyfog and through the heat of the dayit slowly fades away.

Maia Holloway

10 Afternoon in a forestVines, trees, leaves every-where!There are frogs croakingby a mossy lake.There are birds chirpingmonkeys laughing inthe trees.There are monkeys swinging on vines!Fish jumping in a near-by river.There were cloudsin the sky.Even birds in the skyway up high!

Zackary Zamora

Choir Performance

I’m nervous I’m nervousOh what shall I doI am as scaredas a rat in the school

I’ve got a performanceas close as could beI really don’t knowif I should just flee

It’s really quite closeit’s on valentine’s dayIt has really made me thinkI should just run away

When it is overI will be happySince I will be backwith my mommy and pappy

Casey Funk

11

Juliana Siwek

12

a thing of greenwith lovely green leavesthat flutter in the windas it blows from,your heart to mine.tree

Erin Earthman

Kairi Bullock

13

Kaboom

Kaboom, Kaboom go the heavy cannonballs in the dark starry night.

Kaboom went Santa Claus hitting the bottom of the fireplace on Christmas Eve.

Kaboom, Kaboom goes a rock hitting a rusty car door of a car in the parking lot.

Kaboom goes a bouncy ball hitting the cold white tiled floor of my house.

Kaboom, Kaboom goes thunder in a very severe rain storm.

Kaboom goes a hull of a boat crashing into a big iceberg in the Atlantic.

Kaboom, Kaboom go books hitting someone’s desk at school.

Quinn Roselius

14

Kerplunk!

Kerplunk goes my line breaking the surface of the water.

Kerplunk goes my bobber as it hits the H2O with a powerful splash.

Kerplunk goes a rock that I throw into the water, bored.

Kerplunk goes my sister cannonballing into the fresh, cool relief. “ANNA!!”

Kerplunk goes my bobber, sinking under the water.

Kerplunk goes my heart to the bottom of my feet, for the hook is bare.

Kerplunk go my sister’s feet as she jumps backward, for I am hooking up my new bait.

Kerplunk! She stumbles, loses her balance, and plunges into the water again.

15

Kerplunk goes my line as it hits the H2O for a final time.

Kerplunk goes my heart as the bobber jumps down into the murky depths of the lake.

Kerplunk goes my fish’s tail as it slaps against the water.

Katie Butler

Cady Garcia

16

The Planet of Effort

On the planet of effort...The aliens try hard to teleport to earthThey work hard from dusk till dawnThey can’t wait till the humans are goneThey put effort into construction and they’re amazing at destructionThey eat, play and sing all daybut they still can’t wait till the humans go away.

Kyra Purser

going to my parents

I’m going to my parents I mustget packed. I have to pack mywindows and an extra door I needall my shoes and clothes!, “oh andmy name is Joe. I live in russiamy parents are in chinabut it’s counter clockwise planesonly go clock wise,” I’m packingmy house so SEE ya!

Thomas Roche

17

Harrison Watts

18World Made Out of Giraffes

Some man told me the world was made out of giraffesso i killd a peace of the worldandiate itand it tastedkind offunny so i spit itat a baer and the baer started roring at me.

Devin Rachels

19But Now

I used to be planktonBut now I’m a sailfish.

I used to be the finBut now I’m the tail.

I used to be the lakeBut now I’m the ocean.

I used to be weakBut now I’m strong.

I used to be the blue ribbonAnd I still am.

Lily Wise

Eric Bennett

20

Callie Cicack

21

One Day

A nice breezy summerday.It’s a harvest festival day.You hear the jangle of the trees.

The tickle of the grain.The arid part of the desert.the only plant left is the lavender, its pastel is so vibrantit blinds the room.

The one day laterit never happened again.

Talyah Pierce

Cate Bennett

22

Me

I look up into the sky What do I see

A glazed donut staring down at me Its sprinkles are red and whiteThe glazed icing is as bright as a light

Then I look down I don’t see my feetbut some tiny donuts wanting to meet me

I say hello and good-bye but one just one just won’t leaveI sigh and say “I’ll be back next time” Then I crumble into pieces and disappear.

Desiree Rachels

23

Lilli Lemberger

24

Kellan Martin

25

The Poetry Machine

The poetry machine works both day and nightIt’s about 4 feet tall and twelve across it lives in a factoryTho many people do not knowThe workers that work there have many secrets down belowsome people don’t even know that there are workers

the factory has 333 workers92 soldiers64 security camerasbut beware there is danger down theremany people are afraidno one is allowed to see not even one thing

each worker has a special suitthere are many testssome failed but many succeededthe experiments are ruby emerald and sapphire color.

Walker Hipps

26

Colors

Sometimes I feel gray.Sometimes I feel blue like the falling rain.Sometimes I feel orange like eatingfresh picked peaches.Sometimes I feel yellow like drinkinglemonade.I don’t like to feel black like the dark night sky.When I feel red I feel like I’m in Santasworkshop.When I feel green I think about watchingthe muppets.When I feel pink I think ofHello KittyWhen I feel gold I think oftreasure. When I feel happy I thinkof you.

Isabella Ava Vaughan

27

Electra Yanik

28

Bizzzz

Bizz goes Bobby the goat who is driving a tractor murdering grass

Bizz goes the engine of an 18 wheeler at a truck stop.

Bizz goes the nutty bee in the big fat sky.

Bizz goes the bored student in math class.

Nicolas Bell

Omar Holguin

29

Whoosh!

Whoosh! cries the oceanhitting against the sea shore.

Whoosh! go the bird’s wings in the baby blue sky.

Whoosh! goes the applefalling from the lime green tree.

Whoosh! goes the summerthat flies by so fast.

Whoosh! goes the roller coasterwith the screaming little girl.

Whoosh! goes the rocket shipflying in the air.

Maddie Gonzales

30

Bella Cantorna

31

Silver Rocket

When I escape to Neptune,I’ll pack my bathing suit to swim,I’ll pack my brain to be intelligent,I’ll pack my pumpkin to smash.

When I escape to Neptune,I’ll pack my cat to hug,I’ll pack my wand to grant my wishes,I’ll pack my bow to use on a target.

When I escape to Neptune,I’ll pack my arrows to use with my bow,I’ll pack my wings to fly,I’ll pack my mom to love on.

When I escape to Neptune,I’ll pack my dad to love on,I’ll pack my pencils to write with,I’ll pack my kindle to play with.

When I escape to Neptune,I’ll pack my swimming pool to have fun!

Kallisti Clemons

32

Hello

Hello, says the boy to the old man.

Hello, shouts the famous band to the crowd.

Hello, whispers the grandma to the grandchild.

Hello, says the host to the guest.

Hello, sings the girl to herself.

Hello, splashes the ocean to the world.

Hello, echoes the world.

Hello.

Sam Dill

Maggie Kovacs

33

The Broom Closet of Peace

In the closet of peace Dust signs a treaty with gnats Brooms and sweepers sleep ‘til next use Dust pans chatter about the peace memorial next week.

The closet opens and the dust pans, sweepers, and brooms get taken outVacuum begs to not suck up his friendsThis happens in the broom closet of peace.

Jack Budd

34 I used to be Nothing

I used to be a wimpNow I’m bad to the bone

I used to be an eggNow I’m a blue whale

I used to be a dwarfBut now I’m a giant

I used to be the earthBut now I’m the universe

I used to be an inchBut now I’m a foot

I used to be a ping-pong ballBut now I’m a basketball

I used to be Thorbut now I’m Galactus

I used to be a stateNow I’m the United States

I used to be a golf ballNow I’m a golf club.

Issac Herrera

Enya Krathaus

35

36

Sophia Mueller

37Ice Cream

Ice cream, ice creamOh so niceEveryone like it, even mice.

Vanilla, chocolate, pumpkin spice

If you want some, take my advice.

If you like it eat it twice!

Ice cream, ice creamOh so nice.

Campbell Brown

Layla Depmore

38

39

Soft Moon

The moon is softly Silver. Oh how slimcurved is the moon tonight. The mistymoon is so delicate...like golden fire.Yes, it’s so windy like a little sapphire in the night glimmering witha big starlight tonight. So sharpalso spicy when you eat it. Glistenthis night in the dark with the shimmeringshivering moon. So majestic a giant diamond so big to fit in heavenlike a big ruby so sharp. An emerald sobig like a yard of dappled grass.Apple blossoms ghostly white. It wouldbe two hundred mileage logs if yourun around the moon tonight when it’sfoggy. You’ll think you took a velvet mysterious bath. Tonight is silky stone day. I hardly have to say.A prize was a fluffy golden gazelle.If you hit 10 shots in a row. Thisis the best holiday ever made till 1920.

Max Melchor

Carolina Hughes

40

Games

They call me the game popperthe game stalkerI like to play all dayas we score for more

that’s just some of the namesthey call me.

They call me the lego snapper the lego builder the lego rebuilder the lego destroyer

that’s just some of the names they call me.

Anthony Araiza

Contessa Moore

41

Kathryn Funk

42

Ethan Meyer

43

Zapity-zap

Zapity-zap goes Zeus the Godwith his thunder bolts on the peakof Mount Olympus.

Zapity-zap goes Bacchus rubbinga balloon against his head ata party.

Zapity-zap goes Athena at the end of one of her curses ona mortal.

Zapity-zap goes Poseidon ashe strikes an earthquake againstthe land.

Zapity-zap goes Hades as hedestroys the earth.

Zapity-zap goes Persephoneas she sprouts her flower budsall across Greece.

Caroline Pace Olivia Valero

44The prince used to have a shirtNow he has feathersHe used to have a chalkboardNow he has a stick and sandHe used to have red wine now heHas water from the dirtywaterHe had turkeyNow he has birds and other animalsHe used to have a butler nowHe doesn’t have a butlerHe used to have waxingstuff and now he has Facial hair he used to Have a castle nowHe lives in a woodHouse

Kayla M. Almanza

Teddy Sprigg

45

The Circus Man with a Banjo(at the Menil Collection)

I am a circus man playing a banjo.I am an ordinary man playing a banjo.I am a clown.I don’t wear shoes.I have a beanie on.I am wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt.My face is white.The colors that I have on me areBlue White Orange Light Blue Light Orange Dark red Gray And Black

I like playing a banjo. It’s fun.I have ears like an elf.I’m smiling because I am happy.

Trevor Guerra

46

Stick Bug

Stick bug camouflage buga fruit bug standingon a twig bug clicking bug standing next to a cricking bug snaily slow onwater swiftly faston an oak tree a presentsnack for a birdone of a bird’s favorite presents isa stick bug.

Kai Weaver

Kayla Salinas

47

Mia Mallory

Alex Yankowsky Thompson, 3rd gradeAnthony Araiza Petty, 3rd gradeCampbell Brown French, 1st gradeCaroline Pace Gonzales, 4th gradeCasey Funk Lytle, 4th gradeDesiree Rachels Donaldson, 3rd gradeDevin Rachels Keys, 1st gradeErin Earthman Thompson, 3rd gradeHannah Marmo Williams, 1st gradeIsaac Herrera Glaab, 3rd gradeIsabella Ava Vaughan Petty, 3rd gradeIsabella Mueller Olsen, 5th gradeJack Budd Gonzales, 4th gradeJacob Flores Mohnke, 4th gradeKai Weaver Keys, 1st gradeKallisti Clemons Lytle, 4th gradeKatie Butler Lytle, 4th gradeKayla M. Almanza Mohnke, 4th gradeKyra Purser Gonzales, 4th gradeLily Wise Thompson, 3rd gradeMaddie Gonzales Caraway, 4th gradeMaia Holloway Keys, 1st gradeMax Melchor Keys, 1st gradeNicolas Bell Lytle, 4th gradeQuinn Roselius Lytle, 4th gradeSam Dill Gonzales, 4th gradeSelena Taylor Caraway, 4th gradeSophia Mueller Williams, 1st gradeTalyah Pierce Donaldson, 3rd gradeThomas Roche Lytle, 4th gradeTrevor Guerra Caraway, 4th gradeWalker Hipps Keys, 1st gradeZackary Zamora Keeney, 4th grade

In addition to the many teachers credited, we add MaryScott Hagle, the unsung hero of the WITS (Writers in the School) program whose guidance shaped many of these 3rd grade writers named.

Poets

Bella Cantorna French, 1st gradeCady Garcia Donaldson, 3rd gradeCallie Cicack Nelson, KindergartenCarolina Hughes Rivera, 2nd gradeCate Bennett Donaldson, 3rd gradeContessa Moore Crabtree, KindergartenElectra Yanik Tello, 2nd gradeEnya Krathaus Nelson, KindergartenEric Bennett Thompson, 3rd gradeEthan Meyer French, 1st gradeHannah McClure Jeffery, 5th gradeHarrison Watts Richburg, 2nd gradeHarry Bause Soria, 2nd gradeHenry Gibbs Goode, Pre-KJack Salazar Jeffery, 5th gradeJuliana Siwek Harrington, 1st gradeKairi Bullock Stockwell, KindergartenKate Landaverde Keys, 1st gradeKathryn Funk Richburg, 2nd gradeKayla Salinas Richburg, 2nd gradeKellan Martin Lytle, 4th gradeLayla Depmore Cress, KindergartenLilli Lemberger Jeffery, 5th gradeLucia Estrada Richburg, 2nd gradeMaggie Kovacs Harrington, 1st gradeMia Mallory Burke, KindergartenNatalie Garcia Lytle, 4th gradeOlivia Valero Soria, 2nd gradeOmar Holguin Thompson, 3rd gradeTeddy Sprigg Jeffery, 5th gradeZachary Westerlage Nelson, Kindergarten

We also extend behind-the-scenes credit to Mr. Arena, Travis’ own artist-in-residence and art teacher extraordinaire.

Artists

ThanksEditorsJennifer BennettAlan KrathausFiona McGettiganStephanie Drescher Yankowsky

Original Concept former Travis parents Georgina Key & Joe TelloDesign CORE Design Studio

Funding generously provided by the Travis PTA and the Travis Foundation

For questions, comments, and/or donations, contact us at silverrocketzine@gmail.com or info@travissilverrocket.org.

Be sure to visit travissilverrocket.org. Zachary Westerlage (right)