EYES
WritingfromtheBatteredWomen&Children’sShelterofBexarCountyinpartnershipwiththeWritersinCommunitiesprogramofGeminiInk
HER
were
Cover Art: “Virginia” 12 x 13.5”, Acrylic on PanelCourtesy of SAY Sí
eyesHer
wereTruth
“Hereyesweretruth...ShesenttomeIknow.IknowGodsentthisangeltome.”
-from“TheAngelIKnow”
WritingfromtheBatteredWomen&Children’sShelterofBexarCounty
inpartnershipwiththeWritersinCommunitiesprogramofGeminiInk
Writer-in-Residence:KirkWalshEditing,LayoutandDesignby:VictoriaHanan
FundedbyJoanM.Cheever
inmemoryofhermother,SallyM.Cheever
Childrens’ServiceAdministrator,BWCS:DorothyHuertaWritersinCommunitiesDirector,GeminiInk:VictoriaHanan
ExecutiveDirector,BWCS:MartaB.PeláezExecutiveDirector,GeminiInk:RosemaryCatacalos
©2006GeminiInk
Hereyes
wereTruth
Foreword
Lastfall,agenerousgiftfromMs.JoanM.CheeverallowedGeminiInk’sWritersinCommunitiesprogramtoembarkonourfirst-everpartnershipwiththeBatteredWomen&Children’sShelter–andwhatacollaborationitwas!
Meetingonceaweekforsixweeks,writer-in-residenceKirkWalshhelpedmineandcelebratethelivesoftheseresilientwomenandchildren.Theresultiswhatyouseebeforeyou:musingsonsolitudeandstarryCalifornianskies,thoughtsonfriendshipbetweenaboyandhisdog,andeventheheartwarmingconfessionofaChristmastreethief.
Althoughtheresidencywasbrief,wethinkyou’llagreethesimplicityandsweetnessoftheseworksaretimeless.Wearesohonoredtohelpthesewomenandchildrenrediscovertheirvoicesandrestoreasenseofnormalcy.Despiteundergoingseveretrauma,theyarefindingrenewedstrengthbysearchingtheirmemoriesandroots-thestrengththeyneedtomoveforward.Itisaprivilegetobepartofthatprocess.
-VictoriaHananDirector,WritersinCommunitiesGeminiInk
Thanks and Acknowledgments
GeminiInkwouldliketothankJoanM.Cheeverformakingthisanthologyandworkshoppossible;DorothyHuertaandtheotherdedicatedstaffoftheBCWSfortheirenthusiasticsupportofthisresidencyandoverallwonderfulwork;Writer-in-ResidenceKirkWalshforherdedication,professionalismandcommitment;andSAYSíExecutiveDirectorJonHinojosaandVisualArtsAssociateDirectorClaudioAguillonfortheirgenerousdonationofourlovelystudent-createdcoverimage.
Mostofall,wethanktheresidentsoftheBatteredWomen&Children’sShelter.Yourcourage,tendernessandbeautyisagifttousall.
Theauthors’workhasbeeneditedaslightlyaspossibleinordertomostcloselyhonortheoriginal
voices.
Women's Writing
10 11
Country Love Song
Pleasenotanothercountrylovesongontheradioremindingmeofhowmuchyoudidmewrong,whenyoudidn’ttreatmeright.That’sit.Turnitoff,theradio.IbelieveyougotwhatyoudeservedwhenItookoffwiththecatanddog,andleftintheChevytruck.Toobadnow.You’resittingandcrying.Well,turnofftheradiocauseI’mgone.Ididn’tleavenochangeofaddress.SorryI’mnotcomingback.LetmeknowwhenyoufindGodbecauseI’veturnedofftheradio.
-S.S.
10 11
The Angel I Know
Shehadtheskinofcottonsoft.Hereyesweretruth.Andherhairaswhiteassnow.ShesenttomeIknow.WhenIwaswithher,therewassomuchpeace.IknowGodsentthisangeltome.
-Y.R.
12 13
Breath: Where Does It Come From and Where Does It Go
Whatisit?Whatdoesitlooklike?Coolasiceorhotasthesun.Breath,whichwaydoesitgo?Onceyouspeak,yourlipsopenandclose.Youbreathethroughyournose.Yourlungsclearasair.Thedeepbreathyoutakeisamysteryfromabove,TheCreator.
-Y.R.
12 13
Untitled
Elamoreslomasbellodetodoslossentimientosdelserhumano.BrindaamoryrecibirásamorYsinolorecibesnoimporta,Tubrindaloynoesperesnadaacambio.YqueDiostebendigaporleermispalabras.
Gracias.
-L.
Love is the most beautifulof human emotions. Offerlove and you will receive love.And if you don’t receive it,it doesn’t matter. Just offerand expect nothing in return.And may God bless you for reading my words.
Thank you.
14 15
La Soledad
Estristeconsejeraperomuchasveceslamejorsoluciónamuchosdelosproblemas.Esfríasinalientoperomassinembargonosayudaadarnoscuentacuandonecesitamosdeella.Eslaamigafiel.siempreestadondequieraellanotedeja.Dedía,denoche,espacienteperoasuvezligera,esaeslasoledad,amigasinigual.
-T.
Solitude
She is a gloomy advisor but oftenthe best solution to many problems. She does not live or breathe butstill helps us understand.She is a faithful friend, alwayswith you. She won’t leave you.By day, by night, she’s patient andat the same time luminous. She is Solitude, friendwithout equal.
14 15
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Irememberverywelltheyearof1989.ItwasNewYear’sEve.Mysister,mybrotherandIhadalreadygottenpresentsfromourmotherandgrandmother.WeweregoingtocelebrateNewYear’sEveonly
withourfriends.EverythingwasreadybutwedidnothaveaChristmastree.
Idecidedtogetone.Iwenttoacertainplace,cutatree,broughtithomeandeveryonewasvery
happy.Wedecoratedthetree,celebratedNewYear’sEveandhadagoodtime.
IwasafraidofeverythingforIknewwhatwaswaitingformethenextday.Amancametomyhouseand
ToldmygrandmotherwhatIhaddone.ShehadtopayfortheChristmastree.Ifeltveryfoolishandsad.
-N.V.
(ThispiecehasbeentranslatedfromBosnian.)
16
California
InCalifornia,thereisaplacecalledSantaInezMountains.Youcanseethecometsandthestars.Youcanpracticallyseealmosteverything,anditisverybeautiful.Especiallywhenyoulookover,youcanseeSantaBarbarawithbrightbeautifullights.Imissthat.
-E.R.
16
Children's Writing
20 21
Starry Sky
Lookingatthestarrysky,Isawstormtracksridinghigh.RidingtotheMilkyWay?Icanshowyouwhere.Thatway!
_____
Learning
Learningisfun!Learningisgreat!Learningputsasmileonyoursibling’sface.
-A.C.
20 21
Me & My Dog
Meandmydoghoppingdownadirtroad,havingthetimeofourlives.Neverwantedittoend.Wetakealittlebreak.Ieatanicecreampop;himeatingafat,juicybone.ThenIcarryhimhomelikeitwasthelasttimeIsawhim.Thenwegethome,wesnuggleinthebed,andwatchamovieaboutagirlandherdoghavingagoodtime.ThenI’mchangingintomypjsandwegetintobedandsnuggleinthebedandgotosleeptogether.Anditwillstartalloveragain,tomorrow.
-L.G.
22 23
Friends
Iamgratefulformyfriends,becausetheykeepyoucompanysoyouhavesomeonetotalkto.Theytakecareofyousometimes.Ifsomeonewantstofightyou,theytakeyourback.Whenyouhavefriends,youmightfeelaccepted.Orsometimesyoujokearoundandhavefun.Youfeelhappy.WhatImeanbyhappyisexcited,likeasifyouwereataparty.Igetveryenergetic,likeridingarollercoaster.Youmightkindoffeelrestlessoroutofbreath.Itfeelslikeyougetaweirdfeeling.Likefallingoffacliff.Sometimesfrightened,maybethisisbecauseyou’rehavingtoomuchfun.
-A.P.
22 23
My Dreams at Night When I Sleep
Idon’thavedreams.Itispitchblack.Itislikeacomputerscreenwhenit’sturnedoff.Imayheartheclickoftheheatergoingonandoff.
Idon’tfeelanythingwhenIamsleep.Iamadeepsleeper.Idon’tfeelanythingwhenIamsleepunlessitismysisterrollingmeoffthebedtowakemeup!
SometimesIdon’tevenfeelthat.Imayhaveadreamofmefallingbutitisjustmysisterpushingmeoffthebed!!
-L.G.
24
My Memory of the Stars and Constellations
Wewereonourwaytopickupmyoldestbrotherfromhisgirlfriend’shouseinFloresville,Texas.IwasinthebackofthetruckandthatnightIsawtheMilkyWayandasatellite.TheMilkyWaylookedkindoflikeafadedlightwithdarkwhitedotswhichwerethestars.Thesatellitewastwoblinkinglights.Redandblue,Ithink.Theywerenotthatbright.Itwasaveryscarydarknight.Icouldhearnoisesinthewoodsthatweresurroundingus.Theysoundedlikesomeonewaswalkinginthewoods.Thesoundofcricketswasalsoheard.Theywereveryloud.IwaswithmybrotherAdaminthebackofthetruck.Hedidn’tdomuchbecauseIguesshehadalreadyseenthembefore.Iwasexcited.IhadneverseentheMilkyWaybefore.Iwasamused!
-A.P.
24
GEMINI INK is the only community-based center for literary arts and ideas in San Antonio and South Texas. During the past year, we served more than 5300 readers, writers, and literary performance-goers representing a diverse sampling of our community’s population.
Writers in Communities (WIC) sends professional writers with specialized teaching experience into a wide range of community settings to work alongside students of all ages, needs, interests and abilities. WIC writing workshops have been offered in schools, justice settings, neighborhood community centers, and healthcare facilities, among many other venues. While in residence,WIC writers help students create dynamic writing projects, often reflecting their own lives, that challenge, celebrate, inspire and enlighten. Most WIC residencies culminate in the publication of an anthology of participants’ work and a celebratory public reading.
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