10th Grade Creative Writing Piece of the Month

"This piece is called "Papi's Shoes" and I basically stepped into my father's shoes and recalled moments and experiences in his life. I wrote what I thought was his perspective and tried to fully understand it." - Haydil H.

Papi's Shoes

World's spun and knocked sense
out of muchachito's heads. I remember
when I was small under the
peach sky with rivers flowing like Oceans
in a lonesome book to nowhere. I had two jeans
which were dragged through the smooth, desiccated
cafe con leche warm dirt that would one day lead
me to the path of Chicki's knife stabbing my shin,
cause of a knee with the exact genes as me. Two
underwear that were certain to be washed in the river
that flowed silently in the melody of trees harmony.
Two pair of laceless shoes, one that was worn six
days a week and shared with my bro Segundo. No
cleats to play the dream. Now, estas muchachas don't
even know how to besar la mano when they enter the room.
You see, if I didn't besar la mano in my little Papi's nail and wooden
home in Navas, I would get whipped so hard the burn of the leather belt
will stay as a mark for rememberance for 2 weeks. Pesos cannot afford
3 meals, but a belt, to keep future Army leaders in line.
I just wish my god-gift can grow tall so I can escape this tragedy
I call life, clotted eyes have already seen two angels throw their lives away.
Hopefully Yadil doesn't screw up, she's the only one that can take
us away from this misery that clogs the lungs helplessly into a fist of smoke.
Push. That's what I'll do. Dios mio, yo no entiendo. As I grew up,
my only sister, Carmen, had to help my mother around the house. These girls
don't want to lift a finger. That old saying, Great Bulls
sire good cows. But these cows of mine, hmmm.
I want to return to the soil that seen me born,
where the air is not polluted and I can ride to my acres of green beauty.
Where I can sit for hours and listen to mi amor eterno and closed eyes
will make me fly and dream where I stand
next to Rocio Durcal, bouncing crowds, and the lethargic 100 degree weather
moving slowly, capturing every glimpse of the incessant fog,
and the humidity circling every inch of my body while listening
to the beautiful sounds rhythmically reaching
my earlobe:
Mi amor eterno, inolvidable,
tarde o temprano, estare contigo,
para sequir amandonos...
But I do not hear a dove's song, I hear the loud beat
of eternal cracks along the road, arising from beneath.
Love is what I feel for what I have worked for.
See, I have come to an understanding.
I love the peace of my world that I have sweated for
more than what I have created,
what carries my own sangre.

Haydil Henriquez recently won a Scholastic Gold Key Award with this poem. This is a very prestigous award and DreamYardians are very proud of this accomplishment.