My Passion Leaps Out Toward the World
This is Pongo's sixth collection of writing by teens in King County Juvenile Detention in Seattle. These youths are awaiting trial or serving sentences for a variety of offenses, from running away and truancy to prostitution, shoplifting, drug-dealing, and violent crimes. Pongo worked during the detention school program (Seattle Public Schools) and within the detention library (King County Library system) to help the teens write about their lives. Six wonderful adults are responsible for mentoring this Pongo poetry: Ann Teplick (project leader), Leslie Bourgoin, Kiana Davis, Dana Elkun, Martha Linehan, and Paul Rathgeb.
This is Pongo’s eleventh teen publication, printed August 2005. The authors in this book are not identified by their real names. For more explanation of the project's context (and magnificent supporters), you can read the book's two Prefaces, by Richard and by Ann . Please read the sample poems below!
Selected Poems from This Collection
Not Feeling Cared For
Numb
Maria
What I Want
Too Young Stress
Through the Window