PeaceJam Poetry

The following poems were written by HOLA students about the themes encountered during our reading of I, Rigoberta Menchu. These poems were given to Ms. Menchu as a gift at her book signing.

WARRIORS OF THE NIGHT
By Tarik B., age 18

It was nearing dusk with a scarlet red sky.
Every so often the Quetzales sang with a very sad cry.
The layout of the terrain was surreal and serene.
Trees as tall as sky scrapers and vegetation as dark as hunters green.
The darkness falling more and more by the minute
Both soldiers and guerrillas, frightened, not knowing of the others limit.
One side with fire arms and orders yet ever so cumbersome
The other, agile and all knowing of the forest, only fighting with the minimum.
Both with their wits and weapons ready to fight.
Unknown which side will be left fighting after the night.


Sugar Cane
By Azure R., age 12,

Sugar from the sugar cane,
Brown and sweet.
Sugar from the sugar cane
Makes me jittery and jumpy
Sugar from the sugar cane,
A mile away from eating a beet
Sugar from the sugar cane
It’s smooth or lumpy

Cutting the sugar from the sugar cane
So very sour
Working and working
It’s hard not to be a quitter,
Sugar from the sugar cane
Working hours and hours
Sugar from the sugar cane
It’s not sweet but bitter

Finca (A Haiku)
By Natalie A., age 11

I really try
Work hard at finca
Makes me cry.

Finca Life
By Jessica W., age 11

Finca life is never easy
Picking cotton and coffee beans
The coffee beans are very greasy
Watching out for the spraying planes
Make the plants green

The Guerillas
By Josh S., age 14

The guerrillas trained themselves to be deadly
They trained to protect their people and their own
They got themselves prepared and ready
They fought for their family and for those who moan in pain

People were tortured to death and lost their lives
They were skinned, burned, and cut
When they were captured, they believed what the soldiers believed were lies
They were burnt by fire, skinned and cut by machetes
Which are known as big knives.

Poem
By Denis R., age 15

She went over a hill
To find a pill
And take a chill
At the hill

She was eating a pie
Hoping not to die
Her brother fell ill
Because he couldn't get a pill

Birth Ceremony
By Christian A., age 12

The day you’re born is very special
You could be like a bull
All the traits are the same and sometimes even the facial
Even when the sky is full

Haiku
By Christian A., age 12

Rigoberta how
Have you escape the
Torture of them?

Guatemala
By David S., age 17

Guatemala is a beautiful place
Too bad they stole it from us
We are forced to work in the finca
Just to get some money

We learn to read the bible
And we bless the poor
It’s very sad when a loved one dies
They’re lucky if they live past 5.

Untitled
By Ariel S., age 16

The people have been collected and raked
And the U.S. wishes it was faked
All was good till Arbonz bailed
I think we should have sailed

I’m really glad that people hadn’t failed
They raked you up to demonstrate their power
I’m glad you lived to tell this tail
And now the people tower

Poem Untitled
By Isaac A., age 16

When the poor become rich
And the rich become poor
Then society’s long desired stitch
Has them oppressed more and more

The Menchu Way
By Reece H., age 17

She came in the night
Put up a fight
Keeping her family tight
She finally saw the light

She worked hard
To make a living
Worked in the yard and
Kept on living

Untitled
By Anthony S, age 12

I eat corn
I work on the fields
I grieve for the fallen
I am only human

Poem #3
By Izzy A., age 14

I can eat corn
From a factory
Or a village
I can be indigenous
And I can be Christian

But
If I
Don’t
Have a
Choice
Its
Not
So
Great
To be
Me
Anymore

The Cry
By Aaron M, age 18

Oh the injustice
Absolute tyranny
I am tired of all that disgust us
I talk and no one is hearing me

My people starve to the bone
I cry
It is carved in stone
That people shall not die

Poem Untitled 1
By Emily, Age 13

Corn under my feet
It smells really bad
Corn I’d like to meet
Oh em gee its 4 new fad

Maize is the new craze
I always go into a daze
I hope I get the raise
Right now I am in such a phase