First day of fall: Nine new, beautiful poems to start the season!

I am from 

-Anielka Castro

the bounded rope of my Nicaraguan slingshot

From the pages of the amulet and the grips of my controller

I am from green pastures and clear horizons

and where birds sang symphonies for me

I am from the aged oak trees

Whose rugged branches cradled and cared for me

I am from the soft teddy bear stuffing and the yellow was is my crayon.

from the infamous names of Dubon and Castro and from the stubborn and ridiculing backgrounds 

from pouring cold fresh milk in first

from the grains of rice and delicious empanadas

from the first generations of Nicaraguan Canadians 

and from mysteries of my great ancestors

but I will never be from the unruly jungles of Ecuador

I am From 

Mackenzie Arts

I am from a small town in Ontario where everyone knows everyone

I am from an incredibly hard working Dad and a Mom with love that is never outdone

And a hilarious younger sister with a heart of pure gold

I am from going to Sunday School every Sunday, learning how to have faith that is bold

I am from Dad telling me to stay out of trouble, ever since I could walk

I am from making extremely long hop scotches on the driveway with chalk

I am from early bedtimes and waking up at the crack of dawn

I am from many exhausting days of school telling my parents every detail, droning on and on

I am from always saying “I love you like crazy’ to show how much we care

I am from growing up not being able to sleep without my special ‘bear bear’

I am from Nana’s warm fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that tasted oh so good

I am from swimming in our chilly backyard pool all summer for as long as we could

I am from making sweet lemonade to sell at the end of my street for bubble gum money

I am from homemade pizza nights rolling out the thick dough, it’s always so yummy

I am from long games of hide and seek with my cousins in my Papa’s backyard

Playing basketball with my mom in the driveway while she teaches me to be a point guard

I am from going to Camp Kahquah ever since I was only a few months old

Jumping into the lake, tubing, and wakeboarding, the water is never not cold

I am from camp teaching me and shaping me into the person I am today

Running around with family and friends, all we ever do there is play

I am from the best group of friends, laughing until we can barely breathe

Knowing these girls are the ones who will never, ever leave

I am from us talking and getting through hard times together

All these people in my life are so amazing, they are truly treasure 

I am from counting the blessings we have and the many more to come

I am from a life full of love, being grateful no matter the outcome

I Am From

Blake Cary

I am homemade porches and worn door handles,

From punk rock music and EDM,

And firefly fields filled with glowing fairy-like lights,

From loved kitchens and warped door frames.

I am babysitters and cigarette smoke,

From old movie characters and musical plots.

I am home-made pizzas and a light blue lemonade stand,

From long lightning storms and kicking mud,

I am family brunches and ‘the more we are together’,

And peach pie and Tess’s lemon crunch.

I am from reading past my bedtime and muffled laughter,

From school bells and a family debate team that always thought they were right.

I am chronic pain and anti-everythings.

I am from summer camp and minor heatstroke,

From concussions and tendonitis,

And no broken bones (Yet!).

I am from school sports and late-night park practice, 

From therapy and road trips.

I am scholars and high expectations,

And I am anxiety.

I am from

Davina Beam

 I am from stereotypes of drinking maple syrup like it’s water and living in igloos

I am from massive crowds of people around the attractions at Clifton Hill

I am from the swarms of people from around the world just to see the attractions we have

I am from strong smell of coffee from Tim Hortons

I am from the taste of take out food

I am from the mesmerizing taste of home cooked holiday dinners 

I am from the memories of me and my mom cooking foods together

I am from the times me and my little sister did arts and crafts for people

I am from the moments where me and my little brother Darius have fun playing games and talking

I am from the strong scent of smoke

I am from the gloomy looks of my run down road and home

I am from the big scary dogs baking

I am from the soothing scent of fresh rain

I am from the cold feeling of the snow falling from the very light grey sky slowly covering the ground.

I am from a place that looks scary and full of people but under its shell has laughs and smiles.

I Am From

Ethan Bui

I am from long wooden chopsticks

From Rough edged beyblades and trading cards 

I am from the soft fabric of the hammocks 

and the fresh scented plants that stand tall like a giant 

I am from a Bonsai Trees

Whose leaves danced gracefully onto the ground 

I am from the jagged pointy sticks and vast moorish sandcastles

From Nguyen and Bui

And from farming and cooking 

From running wild with our soaring imaginations 

I am from ancient Buddhist temples whose walls were engulfed in moss 

From crispy oily fried noodles and piping hot pho 

From working in the scorching rice field where cicadas buzzed 

And from walking the horde of colossal cows 

I am from travelling on antique boats and the majestic oceans full of marine life  

Where We All Belong ‘I Am From’ Poem

Hailey Hudson 

I am from a place that I call home.
From a place where we wear our hearts out on our sleeve, and fear near nothing. Even though we bicker and fight sometimes, and get lost in the bad.
I am from a place where love grows.
I am from a place that us four call home. 

I am from a place where ‘A La Angela’s’ take on turkey dinner is the invading aroma. From the dinner table where we connect at the end of our days.
Where we play several board games, and leave the clean up to last place.
I am from a place where my brother always makes sure the winner is debated.
I am from a place where giggles erupt and those moments are created. 

I am from a place where we sit under the stars, and the crickets fill the silence. From a place where we talk about our wildest dreams, and looking back at the memories. No goal is too big, no problem is too small.
I am from a place where I feel safe.
I am from a place where we all learned to communicate. 

I am from a place where I found myself.
From a place where I found my love for sunsets and sand under my feet. Doing things together or apart, I found what makes me happy.
I am from a place that we call home.
I am from a place where we all belong. 

I Am From..

Sydney Steele.

I am from a quiet place, smaller than Fort Erie

I’m from neighborhoods filled with children

From a bounce to a swish 

To forever chit-chat of a noisy, big family

From cold wet weather pouring down in the fall, to summer heat

I am from my best friend’s stories of laughter, jokes and fun

From warm backyard fires from evening to night

To toasted marshmallows and steamy soft smores

I’m from tasting new foods, to trying new snacks

I’m from hello, good morning, goodbye at dawn 

I’m from arguing with my mother about this or that

To hearing her say “because I said so” with a calm tone

I’m from family so proud, and happy of me achieving so great

I’m from nights spent playing sports, and chatting with my friends

To others painting or finishing homework from school

I’m from brothers and a sister of love and annoyance

I am from a quiet place where I can be me

I am From

Tugwa Ram Ram

I’m from a little bed next to my sisters,

 from Philadelphia cream cheese and bologna in the fridge.

 Where I’m from it takes a village to raise a child,

 in an open back yard where I’d pick dandelions whose yellow petals made me think they were sunflowers.

 I’m from Android tablets and teddy bears.

 from Khairi and Ramram.

 from arranged marriages between date farmers,

 from dozens of cousins.

 I am from Burgoyne woods BBQs.

I am from mulu7a and 3aseeda 

I am from a man who walked 500 km to get a job,

 I am from Marriage based on Merit.

from school spelling bees that I never won because the colonizers language was so strange to my tongue.

Where I  Am From

William Tran

I am from a sleek 3DS that was passed around.

I am from trading sparkling pokemon cards and flashy beyblades.

I am from a cozy home on a small street, 

and a tiny garden in the backyard.

I am from a lengthy pear tree in the front,

whose leaves danced in the air. 

I am from a giant tree in the back,

whose stretching branches hung my hammock.

I am from a noisy PS3 and chilled juice boxes,

from playing checkers and the game of life.

I am from playing stretched games of chess with my dad and brother.

I am from losing track of time and snacking before meals,

from a steaming bowl of rice and boiling hot pho,

and from crispy chips with a chilled juice box.

I am from yelling Kobe and yeet.

I am from 

-Anielka Castro

the bounded rope of my Nicaraguan slingshot

From the pages of the amulet and the grips of my controller

I am from green pastures and clear horizons

and where birds sang symphonies for me

I am from the aged oak trees

Whose rugged branches cradled and cared for me

I am from the soft teddy bear stuffing and the yellow was is my crayon.

from the infamous names of Dubon and Castro and from the stubborn and ridiculing backgrounds 

from pouring cold fresh milk in first

from the grains of rice and delicious empanadas

from the first generations of Nicaraguan Canadians 

and from mysteries of my great ancestors

but I will never be from the unruly jungles of Ecuador

I am From 

Mackenzie Arts

I am from a small town in Ontario where everyone knows everyone

I am from an incredibly hard working Dad and a Mom with love that is never outdone

And a hilarious younger sister with a heart of pure gold

I am from going to Sunday School every Sunday, learning how to have faith that is bold

I am from Dad telling me to stay out of trouble, ever since I could walk

I am from making extremely long hop scotches on the driveway with chalk

I am from early bedtimes and waking up at the crack of dawn

I am from many exhausting days of school telling my parents every detail, droning on and on

I am from always saying “I love you like crazy’ to show how much we care

I am from growing up not being able to sleep without my special ‘bear bear’

I am from Nana’s warm fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that tasted oh so good

I am from swimming in our chilly backyard pool all summer for as long as we could

I am from making sweet lemonade to sell at the end of my street for bubble gum money

I am from homemade pizza nights rolling out the thick dough, it’s always so yummy

I am from long games of hide and seek with my cousins in my Papa’s backyard

Playing basketball with my mom in the driveway while she teaches me to be a point guard

I am from going to Camp Kahquah ever since I was only a few months old

Jumping into the lake, tubing, and wakeboarding, the water is never not cold

I am from camp teaching me and shaping me into the person I am today

Running around with family and friends, all we ever do there is play

I am from the best group of friends, laughing until we can barely breathe

Knowing these girls are the ones who will never, ever leave

I am from us talking and getting through hard times together

All these people in my life are so amazing, they are truly treasure 

I am from counting the blessings we have and the many more to come

I am from a life full of love, being grateful no matter the outcome

I Am From

Blake Cary

I am homemade porches and worn door handles,

From punk rock music and EDM,

And firefly fields filled with glowing fairy-like lights,

From loved kitchens and warped door frames.

I am babysitters and cigarette smoke,

From old movie characters and musical plots.

I am home-made pizzas and a light blue lemonade stand,

From long lightning storms and kicking mud,

I am family brunches and ‘the more we are together’,

And peach pie and Tess’s lemon crunch.

I am from reading past my bedtime and muffled laughter,

From school bells and a family debate team that always thought they were right.

I am chronic pain and anti-everythings.

I am from summer camp and minor heatstroke,

From concussions and tendonitis,

And no broken bones (Yet!).

I am from school sports and late-night park practice, 

From therapy and road trips.

I am scholars and high expectations,

And I am anxiety.

I am from

Davina Beam

 I am from stereotypes of drinking maple syrup like it’s water and living in igloos

I am from massive crowds of people around the attractions at Clifton Hill

I am from the swarms of people from around the world just to see the attractions we have

I am from strong smell of coffee from Tim Hortons

I am from the taste of take out food

I am from the mesmerizing taste of home cooked holiday dinners 

I am from the memories of me and my mom cooking foods together

I am from the times me and my little sister did arts and crafts for people

I am from the moments where me and my little brother Darius have fun playing games and talking

I am from the strong scent of smoke

I am from the gloomy looks of my run down road and home

I am from the big scary dogs baking

I am from the soothing scent of fresh rain

I am from the cold feeling of the snow falling from the very light grey sky slowly covering the ground.

I am from a place that looks scary and full of people but under its shell has laughs and smiles.

I Am From

Ethan Bui

I am from long wooden chopsticks

From Rough edged beyblades and trading cards 

I am from the soft fabric of the hammocks 

and the fresh scented plants that stand tall like a giant 

I am from a Bonsai Trees

Whose leaves danced gracefully onto the ground 

I am from the jagged pointy sticks and vast moorish sandcastles

From Nguyen and Bui

And from farming and cooking 

From running wild with our soaring imaginations 

I am from ancient Buddhist temples whose walls were engulfed in moss 

From crispy oily fried noodles and piping hot pho 

From working in the scorching rice field where cicadas buzzed 

And from walking the horde of colossal cows 

I am from travelling on antique boats and the majestic oceans full of marine life  

Where We All Belong ‘I Am From’ Poem

Hailey Hudson 

I am from a place that I call home.
From a place where we wear our hearts out on our sleeve, and fear near nothing. Even though we bicker and fight sometimes, and get lost in the bad.
I am from a place where love grows.
I am from a place that us four call home. 

I am from a place where ‘A La Angela’s’ take on turkey dinner is the invading aroma. From the dinner table where we connect at the end of our days.
Where we play several board games, and leave the clean up to last place.
I am from a place where my brother always makes sure the winner is debated.
I am from a place where giggles erupt and those moments are created. 

I am from a place where we sit under the stars, and the crickets fill the silence. From a place where we talk about our wildest dreams, and looking back at the memories. No goal is too big, no problem is too small.
I am from a place where I feel safe.
I am from a place where we all learned to communicate. 

I am from a place where I found myself.
From a place where I found my love for sunsets and sand under my feet. Doing things together or apart, I found what makes me happy.
I am from a place that we call home.
I am from a place where we all belong. 

I Am From..

Sydney Steele.

I am from a quiet place, smaller than Fort Erie

I’m from neighborhoods filled with children

From a bounce to a swish 

To forever chit-chat of a noisy, big family

From cold wet weather pouring down in the fall, to summer heat

I am from my best friend’s stories of laughter, jokes and fun

From warm backyard fires from evening to night

To toasted marshmallows and steamy soft smores

I’m from tasting new foods, to trying new snacks

I’m from hello, good morning, goodbye at dawn 

I’m from arguing with my mother about this or that

To hearing her say “because I said so” with a calm tone

I’m from family so proud, and happy of me achieving so great

I’m from nights spent playing sports, and chatting with my friends

To others painting or finishing homework from school

I’m from brothers and a sister of love and annoyance

I am from a quiet place where I can be me

I am From

Tugwa Ram Ram

I’m from a little bed next to my sisters,

 from Philadelphia cream cheese and bologna in the fridge.

 Where I’m from it takes a village to raise a child,

 in an open back yard where I’d pick dandelions whose yellow petals made me think they were sunflowers.

 I’m from Android tablets and teddy bears.

 from Khairi and Ramram.

 from arranged marriages between date farmers,

 from dozens of cousins.

 I am from Burgoyne woods BBQs.

I am from mulu7a and 3aseeda 

I am from a man who walked 500 km to get a job,

 I am from Marriage based on Merit.

from school spelling bees that I never won because the colonizers language was so strange to my tongue.

Where I  Am From

William Tran

I am from a sleek 3DS that was passed around.

I am from trading sparkling pokemon cards and flashy beyblades.

I am from a cozy home on a small street, 

and a tiny garden in the backyard.

I am from a lengthy pear tree in the front,

whose leaves danced in the air. 

I am from a giant tree in the back,

whose stretching branches hung my hammock.

I am from a noisy PS3 and chilled juice boxes,

from playing checkers and the game of life.

I am from playing stretched games of chess with my dad and brother.

I am from losing track of time and snacking before meals,

from a steaming bowl of rice and boiling hot pho,

and from crispy chips with a chilled juice box.

I am from yelling Kobe and yeet.