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The following photographs andpoems were created by thestudents of West Park CulturalCenter's Fall Photography andPoetry class, held at the ShofusoJapanese House and Garden. Instructor: Natasha Cohen-Carroll

Aurie

I sadly watchthe red leaves dropon the groundmy heart poundsin my chestnot my bestmomentThe tears fall down on the ground I wave goodby to fall and close my eyesThen snow falls on my noseand someone throwsA snowball at me Which I catch and toss back I love winter!

LifeNope! I did it wrongOops! now it’s all goneBoop! one more mistakeSigh, I gaze into the lakeserenely, I wipe my eyesI shall not cryBut I guess that’s justLife.The sadness The things you do wrongThe angerThe fearBut life has more…The joyThe forgivenessThe kindnessThe being with people you loveSo I shall learn from all my mistakesAnd do better next time. Because that’s the world I live in.And that’s what I’ll teach my kin.Because THAT’s lifeSo enjoy itAnd don’t throw a fit

If I was…If I was a treeI would feel freeIf I was a flowerI would have powerIf I was kindmy mind would shineIf I was a catA window sill iswhere I would be satIf I wasn’t me I wouldn’tbe happy

Hayden

ReflectionAs people walk past me I see their view in my point.My self reflects on the people walking by me or the bugs flying above me. Everything and everybody that walks by comes across my water*People walk by me and bugs fly above me. Children love me. Adults love me. People love me. I get thrilled watching the children take photos

Two HaikuThe wind blowsand flies Northto South to coldSanaaI see a mini leaftornado, so small itwould fit in my pocket

Skye Leaves falling from the tree.Birds chirping is greatness Stars are bloomingfrom the skythis is the lightso make it shineThe sky shinesI shine makethe world shine

Sophia

Leafgreen leaf, green leaf, turn unique!yellow leaf, yellow leaf, is uniqueno leaf, no leaf, falling like snow

watercolor, drip drip dripinto the puddle, drip drip drippainted rainbow! drip dripdrip

the light has anunmeasurable heightthe star shines sobrightI shine up so highI like to brighten up the sky.I shine like fire in the night sky.

SUDAN The beautiful talking tree told me tobe it’s guard and so I said yesit gifted me power.

Once upon a time, I was drowningin a deep black Sea and a braveflying koi fish came to rescue me but failed. What I did notknow that I was Godand so I did not die I wasstill alive

Sydney

RockA rock looks like a toothA tooth looks like a rockA rock tooth looks like a tooth rock..

Sun coming to earth the Sun comes down to earththe Sun see what you are doingthe Sun nosey.

Three HaikusI plant a flowerI wait, wait, wait a flower blooms* Snow fallsmore comes downall snow*The sunthe sun–half-wayno sun–just moon

ZoeThe circle of life, which everybody knows, goes on and on whereverthis mini river flows. While you walk upon the bridge, just beneathyour feet, the koi fish swim, through every dip andpeak.

A pond is what they call me. “Like a statue, so still.” they say,with no idea of the lives I fulfill.The koi, swimming calmly through me. Getting what theyneed, having their fill, breathing me in through their gills. The plants I house, moving, waving freely about. Even the people themselves, they bask in my glory, taking photos of me. I don’t even have to look good,they do all the work for me

the blossomsbloom the treesopen up roots inthe groundFlower grows Flowers get older. Seeds fly into the pretty blue skyWind blows away The orange leaves flew into the skyLifting every thing up, I'mweightless.The following poems were created as a group by the studentswater moves like a palm tree. leaves of light skate on the surfaceI reach into the water and watch the shadows danceI get out and stand in front of the sun to dry off

The following poems were created as a group by the studentsand family members, one line each:Very little earth, very little people with big blue emotions,sigh Overflowing feelings, I cry My tears keep falling, it feels like forever It's been a million years or more A bunch. of different roads, or doors which one will lead me home? The trickster will! Time to rule the world I have power from my fingertipsPower flows through me. I am electricityAll alone in the city, I stop at every shop snowflakes falling on the windows and onme Oh look! A falling tree! The ground shook our mindsThe building are highThe barns are tinySo the animals ran away roaming free in the wildNature is everywhere! I smile joyfully. Flowers, leaves, fresh air all around Joy, peace, finally sound.

The wind blows hard My hair is running awayI freed my strands from my scalp It feels so nice without it I'm free The sunshine on my face feels like freedom Stars shine brightStars in the night Moon is staring so bright Glowing light in the night I gasp in awe, so pretty I see the joy in every face. Also the sadness in some eyes from another time, another place.

https://www.westparkcultural.orgWest Park Cultural Center uses arts and culture as acentral tool in programs that help children and youth tapinto their creative and academic potential. West ParkCultural Center is where families can access the arts,education, and other programs that contribute to theirpersonal development.

West Park Cultural Center programs for children and youth have been funded in part bythe Hilles Fund, Rosenlund Family Foundation, Emy and Emil Herzfeld Foundation,William M. King Charitable Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts/Flex Fund, and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. Special thank you to the Shofuso Japanese House and Gardenfor hosting the Photography/Poetry class.