I hear the angels Singing I look down the grass is shivering
"Angels", by first grader Forrest Ahrens, is an example of some of the stunning writing in Community Programs in the Arts (COMPAS) 2007 anthology, Eyes Full of Sky. The songs, poems and short stories in the anthology capture life through children’s eyes.
A striking poem titled "I Never Knew" by Kaley Inman speaks of a fifth grader considering her life and ideas:
Some are wise like a whale some are curious like a kitten but I never knew I liked the mind smarter than a super computer unknown to the unknown
Inman shows a grasp of poetical devices such as similes and repetition of lines, ending the poem with the introspective "… because hate is a strong word / and sometimes / I don't know my own strengths."
Other poems in the collection demonstrate the insights and creativity of open, questing minds. In "Questions of Thinking" Paige Weldon asks "Do we form nightmares or do nightmares take / our deepest secrets and form themselves?" I thought this psychological question was remarkable for a seventh grader.
You will find young rappers, surrealists, and fantasy writers in this COMPAS collection, and read about children's experiences with growing up in different cultures. Writers and Artists in Residence such as John Minczeski and Diego Vázquez assisted children in cultivating their creativity during the 2006-07 school year, and the collection was edited by Stephen Peters. I think this anthology will inspire many young writers and poets to create their own stories.
- Jesmia Avery