Our California
Poems from Riverside County
It Was Worth It
By Deepak Sundarraj (6th Grade)
Leaving my hometown, was a catastrophe.
I didn’t want to leave my home, 7 years of my life.
Yet…
The pale white sun radiating on
the equipment down below.
I made friends, I went to school.
Over time I realized, that it was perfect.
Why was it so perfect, why was it amazing, just why did I love it?
The tables,
nice and clean and everyone chuckles
over the share of jokes.
The chutney, the pizza; and the burgers are combined into one beautiful spread.
The kids play hide and seek as all of them flee.
They grip the rusting monkey bars,
as another shoots the ball through the polyester net.
Dads, seated on the walnut bench talking and laughing about their jobs.
One is an engineer, another a scientist, and a construction worker.
HONK!
The cars roll in the parking lot,
as the cups of fine whiskey splash and sparkle in the night sky.
The fresh aroma spreads throughout the crowd.
And the fears and dangers that had been held by the people
wiped out by the jubilance emitted by the hundreds more.
No matter if they are friends or not.
Everyone welcomes each other,
not feeling embarrassed or sad,
a place where happiness lives its life.
But most of all, it's flowers.
Down the streets a fruity aroma blossoms.
The sunflowers bloom as the cherry blossoms sprout.
Mother nature.
The rusting metal pipes, the rusting gutters.
The bunnies at night.
The crickets chirping
It’s what makes it home.
So very much love in our community.
Understanding voices, unique bodies, and upbeat personalities.
Unity.
So very small, so very peaceful.
Eastvale is my California. It’s everything I long for.
In the Eastvale I know, everyone is one, and one is everyone.
Home
By Albert Alford Jr.
Home a place that keeps me whole,
Green trees tall as giants,
Woods with the depths of the ocean,
People who know country is a way of living.
Family is everything branded liked a tribe,
Your last name served as template to create your own lane,
My town was a familiar playground,
Hope was a prayer God will make happen.
Black and white served as a reminder our history runs deep,
Smelling your grandma’s sweet potato pie on a Saturday morning was the greatest alarm clock,
Sundays were a day where church, family, and food brought us closer in our testimonies,
I miss home.
Seeing each season show itself like a day and night,
While celebrating each new life that’s born,
Thankful for holidays that kept a house full of love and laughter,
Hugging all my aunts knowing this is the best prayer circle in the world.
Looking at my family together continuing to build our legacy,
It’s the volume of southern hospitality for me,
The holding of a door, are you all right baby, the look of knowing who your people are,
Staying connected to where I have been planted.
North Carolina my home, a faithful piece land where mornings are fresh with music of angelic birds,
The soil rich from thick red clay to marshes keeping the ocean at bay,
Time ceases to exist looking at skylines that calms my soul,
My feet remain entrenched in this tar heel state.
Oh, How I Love California
By James Chung
Beginning in the City of Sausalito, wash away in the sunlight
Touching the Bay on a warm summer evening.
Secondly, perform a second rinse for a while as you glide through
Napa Valley on a wine train with a seven-course meal.
Stay Northern until all the water is rinsed away in Half Moon Bay.
Then, bring your family safely to Yosemite Valley as you tumble dry low
On a hike to Half Dome as you witness a monolith escape into nature
With a myriad of trees below.
Make sure to add the fabric softener of great conversations as you drive
Southern on the Pacific Coast Highway, making quick runs into all of the sites
Down the Coast. Forgetting your cares through every tumble of the waves,
From beach to beach, from pier to pier, with peers and family, or self.
Reminiscing on halcyon days of youth that strengthen your relationships and self.
As you come into your final stages of drying, gently spend some time hanging in
Mount Baldy, Big Bear and Mountain High peaks, as gentle winds cool dry your
Summer nights.
Oh, how I love California ~ who cares for and cleanses me so well.
Inside outside
By Sarahi Sarabia
Blinding bright lights, flares, fireworks, fire, fire, fire!
Secret oasis
Winds breath dessert, sealed eyes, feet follow the thunder stomping beat inside
The head turns turns turns away from the sand like a ticking clock - almost a dance
Feet deep in water he can't drink
this thirst is his drive and it will not be quenched
At an eternal halfway house
Whatever is between yesterday, tomorrow, you and what is dead
Homeless scattered, crumbled like unripened dandelions, icing green hills
Find a mirror broken in the streets so we can see ourselves
White tablecloths and closed doors
There's no drought when I have water!
Don't need water when there is wine
The misty dew air steaming up
Lobster Thermidor, browned
Sunlight, drought
How would you like your bread and butter?
Butter is only for saints,
Seven loaves for the poor
Walk of the stars, cosmic alienation
California is a resort but you're the server
Beauty we sweep under the rug
Dreams that fall into potholes
Birds in a golden cage
Streets littered with art, red string dahlias
That speak Babylon to all
Love or danger - Passion!
Hills, feet, souls ablaze with desire
fire, fire, fire!
My Space
By Phillip Sanchez
Welcome to my Space, I’m glad to see you
Again, welcome.
I think you ‘ll like it, there is a lot of room here.
I’m rather big, I’m longer than I am wide.
I’m home to a whole lot of people.
You’ll hear different languages here, from people all over the world.
I love it!
One side of me can be a little cold in some months, the other, warmer.
The Magnificent Pacific Ocean borders one of my sides
There are a lot of mountain ranges and valleys on my other side.
One of my neighbors is actually another nation!
I must say
There is a lot of beauty here, maybe even magic: Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, Big Sur, Golden Gate Bridge, Lake Tahoe, Joshua tree National Park. If you love the sea, Catalina Island, the Channel Islands.
Like music and entertainment? I have plenty of concert venues. The Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theater, Forum, Disney Concert Hall on my south side and Music City, the Filmore and the Regency Ballroom on my north side.
If you like wine, I’ve sprinkled cool wineries throughout my space.
Oh, also, I’m home to many artists from all walks of Life: writers, painters, poets, actors, sculptors, musicians, composers.
A few songs have even been written about me.
I’m proud to say I’m home to many people from different parts of the world.
Some who come here do so in desperation for a better and safer Life.
It hurts my heart when I hear people saying such hateful things about some of my residents.
I am a land of cultural diversity, with many colors and languages.
Many of the people who live here
Are good, decent, peaceful, and compassionate people.
They see to it that my natural wonders are preserved.
They see to it that the evil of prejudice, hate and evil are discouraged.
Many even take personal actions to protect me and my wonderful space.
I know by now; you’ve already figured out my name.
Some of my people call me SoCal, NorCal, Cali,, Califas
Yes…
I am the Golden State
My flag, painted with the colors of red, white, green and brown
With a Mighty Bear with the words:
“California Republic”
Welcome, welcome
To this, my space.
You are home, at last.