“Worrying About School” by Lexilu Uhila
October 8, 2024
We worry about waking up
we worry about getting there on time
we worry about sleep
we basically worry about attendance
there’s a problem if we talk
Maybe we want to change these rules
Maybe we want to stop sometimes and just take a break
Maybe we’re tired of these teachers
Maybe we’re tired of school period
Why can’t we get breaks?
We go to school for 7 hours and
come home and do whatever our
parents expect us to do
and that could take hours
All people want is sleep
We worry about people
we worry about eating
we worry about little crazy small things
Why can’t we ever have peace?
Why do teachers complain about
kids just being tired?
We need something better.
What can we do?
Let’s find peace and stop
This poem was written by Lexilu Uhila, as a 7th grader at Denny International Middle School with WITS writer-in-residence Amy Hirayama. Performed at the Seattle Arts & Lectures Encore event with Sandra Cisneros at Town Hall on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.