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.

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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.

For more information, visit www.geminiink.org;or call 210.734-WORD (9673). Toll-free: 877.734-

WORD (9673).