Waterways Project Publication

Barbara Fisher & Richard Spiegel co-directors

Carolyn Green - Waterways Thacher Louis Crifo- Site Thacher David N .• Cover Art

Thomas PerryC.U.N.Y. Intern Kimberly Davis & Irene Rivera - City- .

As-School Interns

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent Office of Alternative High Schools and Programs

Richard Organisciak- Principal

@ 1992 The Waterways Project of Ten Penny Players, Inc.

Support for the Waterways Project is provided by participating schools, the New York State Council on the Arts,

the Office of Alternative High Schools and Programs, Con Edison & the Office of the Manhattan Borough President

Table of Contents
Allie 1.9.14.17
Joe 2.15,16
Tracey 3
...
,. William 4.8.13
-
Keba 5
Wesley 6
R.R.R 7.10
Bill & Tanya 11
David 12
Tracy 18
Prince 19-20 l

Respect

My name is Allie

I have to respect myself

·first before I can respect anyone Living life on life's terms

is not easy for me

I have to plan my work and work my plan

I have to give myself enough space to accept constructive criticism I have to have

more understanding

as an individual to complete my goals

- Allie

(1)

Joe

Joe is

Ordinarily a nice Everyday person

Loves roller skating Outdoors with comrades Usually never hesitating Intelligent and kind Soild as a rock

- Joe

(2)

If

PAIN

.~ . "-

PAIN - IS A HURT FEELING PAIN - IS SOMETHING.

YOU DON'T GET OVER

PAIN - IS SOMETHING YOU TRY TO DENY PAIN - IS SOMETHING

YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT PAIN - IS SOMETHING

YOU CAN ALWAYS REGAIN.

PAIN - IS SOMETHING .

YOU THINK YOU KNOW PAIN - IS A PART OF LIFE PAIN - IS SOMETHING

YOU CAN'T CONTROL PAIN - IS SOMETHING THAT GOMES AND GOES PAIN - IS SOMETHING

YOU CAN'T IGNORE PAIN MAKES YOU FEEL

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD

PAIN - I HAVE GOT OVER IT.

BUT IT 'COMES AND GOES IT TAKES TIME .

TO RECOVER OVER PAIN

- TRACEY

(3)

When We Are Together Again

When we are together again I am not going to make

the same mistakes

I made this time

When you tell me something I am gonna listen

because that is what

-got me into jail

When we are together again

I am not gonna do the damage that I did to you

and everyone else because not only did it hurt you but it killed me

When we are together again we are going to have fun like we did once before

When we are together again I am going to tell YOU 'that I love you

and I missed you 50 much

When we are together again I am going to be the best that I can be

When we are together again it will be just you and me' I will always love you

- William

(4)

r

Thank You Higher Power

Fo~_creating such wonderful things

Things like flowers. trees and birds that sing

Baby seals

with white furry coats Big black eyes and little wet black noses lying on the snow

so innocent and sweet

If only I could have one just for me

I would hold. hug and squeeze it tight

and put him up under my covers· with me to keep him

warm every night

- Keba

(5)

L

A YOUNG GANGSTER IT ALL STARTED

WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD BOLD IN THE STREETS OF 160 IN QASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW MY NAME IS BIG HERSH

AND~I COME FROM THE BIG 40 CREW RUNNING BUCK WILD

THROUGH THE STREETS OF NEW YORK /YOl WHAT PEOPLE TELLING ME GETTING PAID A-MAZED

BY THE HUSTLER MINE I DISPLAY I WASN'T A PRANKSTER

I WAS A VERY YOUNG GANGSTER !YEA/THAT'S WHAT I WAS

LIVING LIFE ON THE FLIP SIDE RUNNING RAGGEDY UNTIL I THOUHT OF A MASTER THE PLAN ME AND MY HOMEY PRINCE YO THAT'S MY MAN

PARTNERS IN CRIME

/YO/ THAT'S WHAT WE WAS GETTING RICHER AND RICHER AFTER EVERY DAY

WE ARE NOW TOO FAR IN ·.·THE GAME DRUGS

I HAD TO- SAY - HOW LONG

IS "THE FAME GOING TO LAST?

- WESLEY

(6)

1

\

IF I WAS A LION

IF I WAS A" LION I WOULD BE THE KING OF THE JUNGLE

I WOULD BE AS BEAUTIFUL

AS A ROSE AND AS STRONG

AS AN ELEPHANT

I WILL BE ABLE TO" GET

ANYTHING THAT I WANTED "

TO EAT AND DRINK -,

I WOULD BE AS FAST

AS A CHEETAH

TO MOVE AS FAST AS LIGHT WHEN I THINK OF A LION

I THINK OF THE COURAGE

TO HAVE NO FEAR OF ANYTHING

BEING A LION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING ...

- R.R.R.JR.

(7)

Reality in Life's Experiences

Life is a temporary gift

to humans from our creator up above However we chose to live life

we must live life to our best ability To aqhieve all that life has to offer as far as living and being

a product of society

Knowing your state of being as a person Going through experiences

to understand what life is all about Life is about pain, and fear, and hate and loneliness

As humans we don't really understand our feelings

'cause we don't have any self control over what we really feel

Life is full of many experiences I realize I am a creator

Just like our creator

up above in the heavens

- WILLIAM

0-

(8)

I NEED HELP!

I'm a man trapped inside a woman's body My name is Bill but sometimes it's Tanya.

I even go as' far as dressing.

I need to get with someone

that is the same as me, or some-

one to HELP me , PLEASE!

PLEASE HELP ME Bill and Tanya

(11)

I have longed to find the path of love. the road seems so very hard to find.

On a constant journey, the search continues. Heavy. is my sorrow, lonelY is my heart. It hurts to know as I observe my surroundings, I am still alone. With no one to talk to and no one who cares, I find passion heavier to

bear.

The Path

by D--Nice

(12)

A Love Letter

A love letter to

my higher power Allah A heart and mind

full of honesty and respect One bag of roses and

one bag of diamonds

to the one who is above me If I believe you

I will make it in this world with a good book

Thank you for a roof

over my head.

Allie

(9)

\

Mercedes

I CAN IMAGINE

IF I WAS A MERCEDES BENZ! IF I WAS A MERCEDES

I WOULD BE SO BEAUTIFUL THAT EVERYONE WOULD WANT TO DRIVE ME BECAUSE I WOULD BE SO ATTRACTIVE. WHEN YOU DRIVE ME I WILL PURR

LIKE A CAT AND RIDE. SMOOTH AS A PLANE. MY COLOR WILL BE AS BRIGHT

AS THE SUN AND SHINY

AS A PIECE OF GOLD.

MY INSIDE SEATS WOULD BE SOFT

AS COTTON, AND I WOULD SMELL SO GOOD THAT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO SMOKE IN ME OR LET ANY ONE SMOKE INS IDE OF ME

BECAUSE I AM SO CLEAN .

YOURS TRULY WITH LOVE R.R.R.JR.

. (10)

TODAY

I am thankful today'

because I am in J-CAP

I have'stronger family ties I am healthy today

I have a lot of friends today I found GOD

I have a life today I am DRUG-FREE today I am alive today

- William

(13)

My Ideal Woman

A woman has to be well recognized by her personality and quality

A woman has to be well equcated and brilliant with a masterJs degree

A woman has to be very consistent

and disciplined and with family ties A woman has to have no relations with drugs and driving in the wrong lane

- Intikab

(14)

Feelings

There are feelings of hate

There are feelings of joy

There are feelings of being

A little boy' when everyone

seems to look down at you and the thought - A feeling of being BIG and HUGE

It's a feeling of being BIG and TALL The height to dunk a basketball

Don't worry it's a feeling that will pass One day youJll be as grown as DAD

Joe S.

(15)

BLACK

B-Is for blossoms expanding thru the year L-1s for love. feelings to share

A-Is for apple, hot sour but sweet

C-1s for choice. to live carefree

K-Is for knowledge

- JLS

(16)

,------

I'm Going to Make it in This World

I have to put a lot work into my school workandforget about drugs

I will always believe

in my higher power <ALLAH>

I have to surrender all my negativities to the will of ALLAH in order for me

to make it in this world

I will always stand up for my rights I will be honest with myself

and the world will be honest with me

- Intikab

(17 )

Dear Ebony and Jesse and Mommy,

I miss all of you very much.

I can't wait too see yoU and the children. I am going to school right now and trying to get my GED

and focus on myself and live a better life for me and my family.

It is very hard in this place but only the strong survive and this place is making me strong to deal with all obstacles in life.

How are the chidren? Are they doing good in school. Ebony will be five on March 27, so please don't forget to

tell James to give her something

special for me.

How is my baby boy Jesse James?

I miss him so much with his bad self. Tell both of them I love them very much.

Mommy how are you doing? I hope YOU are alright. Please do not worry about me. I am safe in this environment. Just make sure you stay well and keep the kids safe. I LOVE YOU MOMMY!!!!!!

LOVE TRACY

P.S Kiss Ebony and Jesse!!! I!

'( 18)

THE J-CAP STAFF DEDICATION RHYME

A DEDICATION RHYME. A DEDICATION RHYME. TO THE J-CAP STAFF.

THEY ALL GRADUATED FROM A PROGRAM CHILLIN' OUT AS THEY GIVE IT AWAY. TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME.

AND NEED TO STAY.

STARTING FROM THE· TOP.

HE SEEMS KINDA BRIGHT

DRIVING THE INFINITI

IS BIG TOM WHITE.

HE GOT A SECRET ABY •

SHE IS REAL CUTE

I WISH I WAS A LITTLE OLDER. AND HAD A LOT OF LOOT.

BUT YOU KNOW ME. I NEVER FAIL LOOKING GDDDER THAN EVER

IS MS. BELL.

I DON', T REALLY KNOW HIM. HE JUST GOT HIRED.

CHILLING IN THE STAFF OFFICE IS MR.. PYATT·

AND I CAN'T FORGET A REAL SMALL MAN.

BUT HE TALKS LIKE HE'S HUGE. BUGGING IN LIBERTY IS MR. HUGHES. AND THERES A LADY.

SHE NEVER CRIES.

EER NAME IS MS. SPOONER.

SEE DRIVES A BLACK BUTTERFLY.

(19)

---

TO A COOL BROTHER, BE NEVER RIFFS.

LAMPING IN RE-ENTRY IS MR.SMITH. AND I CAN'T FORGET" ABOUT HIS MAN, HE GETS MAD ACTION.

COOLING IN DAY SERVICE IS MR.JACKSON. AND I CAN'T FORGET

SHE IS ONE OF A KIND.

ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR ANOTHER. NEVER WASTING NO TIME.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR VENNESSA

BUT WE CALL HER MS. BROWN.

- BIG PRINCE ALLAH

(20)