In advance of the release of the 20th volume of the 826 Quarterly this Saturday, October 18, during Litquake’s pinnacle Litcrawl event, please enjoy this preview of some of the wise words you’ll find nested between the covers. Many of our programming prompts focus on the developing identity of the young adult, and the struggles of defining oneself in a world already full of labels and stereotypes.
Words
Alejandro Alfaro *age 12
Buena Vista Horace Mann
Just because I’m a kid,
doesn’t mean I’m annoying,
doesn’t mean I’m crazy,
and doesn’t mean I’m dumb.
Just because I’m biracial,
doesn’t mean I think of it every day,
doesn’t mean I’m confused,
and doesn’t mean I’m lazy.
Just because I’m a boy,
doesn’t mean I am violent,
doesn’t mean I’m lazy,
and doesn’t mean I’m in a gang.
Just because I am a biracial guy,
should I care?
Should I view myself differently?
Do people care?
Just because I am a biracial boy,
doesn’t mean I’m different.
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To read more perspective poetry from students ages 6–18, pick up a copy of the 826 Quarterly in the Pirate Supply Store, or at the release party Saturday night!
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