A writing project at Lawrence Alternative High School that celebrated the life and career of Langston Hughes has resulted in a book of poems written by the students.

The project, called “Poetry: The Language of Life,” allowed the students to find their own writing voice and to use words to explore the world and their places in it.

Poets Barry Barnes, Brian Daldorph, Matt Fowler, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Laurie Martin-Frydman and Sarah Ruhlen worked with the students to develop their writing skills.

The poets included in the book are Asja Eckertson, Ramon Martinez, Patti Beedles, Miranda Davison, Chris Demby, Nina Chandlee, Kendra Rodriquez, Caleb Thomas and Ozzie Backus.

The project was coordinated by Alison Watkins and funded by Douglas County Community Foundation.

Here is a sampling of the book’s poems:

Lori Poem 1

Chris Demby

I do not want to be at school

I do not want my mom to punish me

I do not want new shoes

I do not want a boring life

I do not want to be a cowboy

I do not want fries with that

I do not want to be grounded this weekend

I do not want to kill people

I do not want butter on my bagel

I do not want to be famous

I do not want any water

I do not want to get a job

I do not want to go to church

I do not want to be rich

I do not want a salad

I do not want to buy into the latest fad

I do not want to watch TV

I do not want war

I do not want change

Cigarette

Ozzie Backus

Bursting from the ground

Stuck between smiling lips

Be the sweetened death

Direction

Nina Chandlee

Pack your bag,

Prepare for one night,

Be sure you have clean underwear,

Fill up your gas tank,

Head out about 7 o’clock

On that road leading out of this hell hole,

Yes, take that road

Until you see the sign

You will know which one it is,

Just turn down there,

Trust me,

Drive until the road ends,

Open your trunk,

Take out your blanket,

Lay down on god’s green earth,

Look into the sky,

Watch the stars at work.

Open

Asja Eckertson

Pour me a shattered glass

Of moonshine while

Ripping open the ripe breath of

Laughter

I stand on my back

Let my roots stretch down

Swallowing the emptiness

I plunge my slippery body of

Shedding scales into

The spinning pitcher of

Life

The freshness of my syrupy

Sweet nectar

Fills me with liquid joy

Bring me my wings so

I may fly into the beautiful

Dawn of a new day

My Monster

Caleb Thomas

I could see it coming

It was obvious for years

I knew it would be bad.

There was nothing I could do.

As I sat upon the grass my monster began lurking

Lurking through the vastness in my head

Drawing closer and closer

Preying upon my thoughts.

I had seen this all before.

Futile rage began burning through my head

My monster had arrived at last

How I wished I could stifle him and harness inner peace

But my monster had other ideas.

Finally I gave in and screamed “what is it that you crave?!”

My monster then replied to me “only to see you enraged.”