Maya

Family Member Free Write for writing workshop

Name: Maya Dias Estrela (my sister)

Age: 9

Appearance: Tall and skinny. Long straight dark brown hair that is very smooth and light.Dark brown eyes that are very Chinese like. Slightly pudgy nose. Light tan skin. Pink skinny lips that are usually dry and chapped. Marilyn Monroe-esque beauty mark on the corner above her the left side of her lip, three other beauty marks by left cheek close to her ear and one on her right cheek. Awkward but cute smile. Small hands with long skinny fingers and long fingernails. Big feet. Her right hand and right leg are weaker and less functional motor skills wise, but that is only noticeable if you pay very close attention. Recently got braces.

Clothing: Usually wears bright colored sweatpants or jeans, with a colorful graphic tee-shirt, a sweat jacket and sneakers with colorful socks. Her hair is worn down or in a low ponytail. She never wears any jewelry or make-up.

Personality: Maya is a very talkative child. She never shuts up. Ever. She always has something to say or a question to ask. She likes facts and so she needs to know every little detail about everything, and she will ask you about every aspect of whatever it is you’re talking about until she is satisfied. She takes everything literally, and doesn’t understand jokes. She’s very attention craving and has a tendency to get jealous. She gets upset very easily, and is very sensitive. She doesn’t like change and had conservative leanings. She is very attached to things. She likes to yell. She is very very loud.

Maya is a very sweet girl. She is extremely intelligent, and learns quickly. She has a very precise memory for events and facts. She cares a lot about her family and friends. She remembers everyone’s birthdays and is always ready to give out hugs. She has a lot of determination and knows what she wants in life and what she has to do to get them. She’s very ambitious and what she lacks in creativity and patience she makes up with willpower.

Quirks: She doesn’t like it when people laugh at her, even jokingly…because she can’t tell they’re joking. She doesn’t like it when people sing when she wants to be the one singing. No one can tell her what to do; she refuses to listen to them. She also hates it when I call her “monkey”.

Hobbies: Maya likes gathering facts about states and presidents, bothering her sister, reading and writing very factual stories. She would like drawing but she has no patience and ends up just getting frustrated. She likes collecting things. Maya also enjoys playing outside and watching reruns on tv.

Habits: She has a habit of speaking very loudly. She asks people to repeat themselves just to make sure she hear them right. She repeats incidents she found funny even if they just happened two seconds ago. Maya has the habit of getting really angry, crossing her arms and pouting every few minutes. She also has the habit of speaking English even when we tell her to speak Portuguese.

(I love u monkey~!)

I Don't Know Why

I Don't Know Why

by FE Dec 8 2010

You stare at me with accusing eyes,

waiting for me to explain myself,

to tell you why I do, all these things I do.

But I remain quiet,

not a word escapes my lips.

My mind screams in protest.

“Say something! Say anything!”

What can I say?

How can I explain what

I myself don’t understand?

You turn away with a

disappointed look.

I reach out to you in tears

And whisper a single quiet phrase.

“I don’t know...”

I don’t know why I do what I do.

I don’t know why I think what I think.

I don’t know why. I don’t know why.

"I don't know why..."

Please Look My Way

Please Look My Way
by FE Dec 6 2010


I watch you from across the room,

You laugh at someone’s stupid joke.

Perhaps, you’ll turn towards me soon,

But I doubt there’s any hope.


There are times I ponder,

Whether you even know I’m here.

Then I pause to wonder,

What are the things you hold dear.


And then it finally happens,

You look my way.

My face reddens with passion.

Shyly, I look away.


My heart beats in a flurry,

And I am wrought with anguish.

My vision turns so blurry,

I wish I could simply vanish.


But I hear you call my name,

And you come to take my hand.

Thus, you’ve set my heart aflame,

And made my world expand.

Not Perfect

Not Perfect
by FE Dec 3 2010



Why do you say I’m perfect?

When I’m perfectly aware I’m not?


You tell me

      my eyes shine brighter than the stars,

      my lips are softer than rose petals,

      my laugh is a happy melody and,

     my smile is warmer than sunshine.


But I know,

      my eyes are dark, cold and unforgiving,

      my lips are chapped and rough,

      my laugh is loud and off key and,

      my smile is awkward and shy.


So why do you say I’m perfect?

It’s time you accept me as I am,

Or not at all.

The Girl In the Mirror

The Girl In the Mirror
by FE Dec 6 2010


There’s a stranger in my mirror.

Staring straight at me.

She’s stolen my reflection

And shown me all that I could be.



Her hair is silky.

Her skin is smooth.

Her eyes are bright.

Her lips are plump.



I gaze at the girl in the mirror.

A perfect version of me.

I could never be her,

Not even in my dreams.

Bliss

Bliss
by FE Dec.3 2010


Under a full moon,

On a lonely park bench,

Two lovers sit, side by side.

Tonight, there is only them.



He places his hand

On top of hers,

And she looks to him,

With eyes brighter than stars.



Her hand on his heart,

His hand on her thigh,

Their eyes never leaving the others.

Tonight, there is only them.



As they lean in closer,

All their worries are forgotten.

Lips meet lips,

And the rest is bliss.

A Love Like Ours

I've been working on quite a few poems recently. Here's one:

A love like ours
by FE Dec. 3 2010


Hold me close and don’t let go,

Let me hear your heart beat next to mine.

Hold me close and don’t let go,

We can’t waste a second of precious time.



Today, I won’t say no

To your soft touch, and sweet caress.

Today I won’t say no,

So let’s be free, and forget the stress.



Just go with the flow,

And don’t doubt a single second.

Just go with the flow,

No need to stop and reckon.



Hold me close and don’t let go,

Let me hear your heart beat next to mine.

Hold me close and don’t let go,

Because a love like ours is hard to find.

Life Instructions

Monday Writing Workshop Exercise

Life Instructions


1) Eat something sweet every once in a while

2) Visit your family often, especially if they live far away

3) Buy books, read books, share books, write books, fill your house with books

4) Never leave home without a notebook and pencil

5) Don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself

6) Be adventurous and curious

7) Travel to different countries and learn everything about them

8) Learn something new, about yourself and about the world around you, everyday

9) Have at least one true best friend, and be their best friend in return

10) Memorize the lyrics to your favourite songs

11) Sing out, sing loud, sing proud

12) Let your imagination run wild

13) Do something life-risking

14) Cry when you feel sad, laugh when you feel happy, scream when you’re upset, never hide your true feelings

15) Never break a promise, if you can’t keep a promise then just don’t make it

16) Don’t tell other people’s secrets, but tell everyone yours

17) Break a rule one time in your life, and then reflect on it

18) Tell someone you love them everyday

19) Always be yourself, no matter how odd, silly, or crazy that is

20) And most of all, never give up hope