W.o.o.t.s.

Alien by Joseph Albertine from Grant High School Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong Through the dark eyes of an alien I can see the rich Americans Those gas-hogging fiends Towering elegant buildings loom Blocking sunlight from The grey ground as if it were a Thick canopy of old [...]

When You’re Gone by Maria Hernandez from Jefferson High School Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong The rain, the wet floor, The smell of the flowers, Cold air through my skin, All the women crying A man talking about heaven, People wearing black, Carrying umbrellas. The red roses in [...]

Your Voice by Megan Brevig from Lincoln High School Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong It’s the late night conversations, When your voice is coming through the phone That you sound soft, and dull, and tired. Often lapsing into desolate silences Shared only by those who have trapped the [...]

I Was Taught by Mark Jiminez from Pauling Academy, Marshall campus Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong I was taught that stealing was good, to take from the store or my mom’s money; but I learned my lesson, that stealing was not good. I was taught to learn to [...]

Home by Natalya Anderson from ACT, Roosevelt campus Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong I walk up to a red door with a silver knob, cold to the touch I open it slowly, as I hold my breath, to find two things plopped on the couch. One had his [...]

I Was That Kid by Rose Nguyen from Benson High School Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong I was that kid the one who got picked on I was inside that house the white carpet stained the smell of smoke from the cigarettes they smoked colored marking on the [...]

Hip Bones by Talia Marie Bollard from Metropolitan Learning Center Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong Pointy thin bone almost ripping my flesh Creating a mountain under my skin Disappearing then reappearing Flat on the ground like a pancake They poke out to see the world, sharp Pointy thin [...]

Life by Samantha N. From the WITS Program at Alliance High School Life isn’t that simple It comes and it goes, The drowning of a boy Who didn’t quite, know, The experience was harsh But it taught me a lot, Life is unpredictable More often than not, Don’t take things for granted Cause one may [...]

Teen Hood using ING by Samantha N. From the WITS Program at Alliance High School Racing, chasing, fighting chance Moving, swinging, stepping dance Crying, hurting, breaking heart Loosing, refusing, acting part Nurturing, loving, pleading mom Singing, playing, sleeping, that lullaby song Yelling, scolding, punishing dad Reaching, speaking, sacrificing, trying to prevent bad Life is filled [...]

Though the content and themes of WITS student anthologies vary from year to year, one thing has remained constant: the artful design and layout of the anthology, created by book designer Jodi McPhee-Giddings, who has worked on the WITS anthology every year since 2003. In a recent interview, Jodi graciously answered my queries about her [...]