Inspirations by a 4th grader, Doodles and Poetry

Now this was from an elementary school that I worked at last year. This is a drawing that a young 4^th grader drew on the board, as the teacher was teaching her lesson. The artist was as the signature states—Daniel. It was tough because I was working with purely 4^th graders, and I struggle with elementary kids. But when I was told what this kid did, and then saw the picture, I admit, it made me smile.

Granted, this kid is obviously oppositional defiant, but this illustrates exactly why I love working with oppositional defiant children. Not only does this child not like school, he has the ability to express it in such a intelligent fashion. He has labeled the school, he has a wrecking ball ready to smash it, and to top it all off, my man has protesters out front saying school is a leagel....or illegal! What 4^th grader has the gall to go up to the board, uninvited, while the teacher is teaching, draws this on the board, and then signs it?!!? Lovely, if I would had been the teacher, I don't think I would of sent him out, I think I would of let him finish and then address why he drew it, and had a conversation about timing.

I think this gave me a lot of inspiration to do this site. Our children say and do the damn-dessss things; they display courage, and the ability to call b.s., b.s, when they see it. They express themselves inappropriately sometimes, however their message always comes across loud and clear.

Below are some doodles and poetry, I hope you are enjoying my site and stuff, please feel free to comment.


We fly snap dragons
on Tuesday, be gone
from grand-dads earthdae
to cousin Erma's homecoming
shrink down, ant size
hitch a ride on the eastern-
most snowflake
takin the southern-route
to the Florida-Georgia border

Catch
Cynthia
ridin' two
turtles headin'
up-stream by
way of the
Henry Hudson
I am
master manipulator
movin' mountains                                                            by my might
                                                                                wish me to do some
                                                                                work--may take
                                                                                me all damn day

You choose to play

child games, but

claim you're a young

adult

teachers rackin' their

brain on how to

reach you,

before you reach that

rope.

It's not all about skills

that cope, sometime it's

teachin' you to stay awake

and use your mind;

we gotta get you to float.

For some of you would

rush to waters at 18 and

immediately sink.

Unable to access lessons

learned because you

refuse to think

You are no longer a baby

once you master

walking, talking,

and the control of your bowels

even if your attitude

is shit

You still need to learn

your vowels

In space
they create
corners & pockets
to pack in emotion
& experience
under extreme
climate change
Changing children creep
through calenders, sometimes
attempting to revert when
new pregnancies pop into the
picture

She said she was very 

Zen, & having a
moment;
as she opened
the door for us,
carrying 5 freshly emptied,
but not so
fresh smelling
purple recycling
containers.
We were
2 small, hot coco's
3 chai's
and an extra coffee--
I believe.
Mornings in the moment
can be beautiful

Never plan to be 

somewhere for so 

long, but then 

you get involved; co-

workers become friends,

becomes an intrest, a date;

(she relates love to your

face) then you get scared

& she leaves. Never planned 

to stay, but love lost became 

friends who were co-workers

who noticed you weren't 

happy & did their best 

to keep you sane.

Doodles, Updates... Poetry???

If you think all I do is doodle all day, that would be a flaw in your thinking.  I do work with my kids, it does not take a lot to give them a task, and have them stay on it.  The environment is not as stressful or ridgid as the treatment center, so I have more time at the school.  On occasion I will prepare lesson plans, or assist my teacher with the plans.  So I am left with a lot of time through my day.  It is easier to doodle rather than write, because when I write, I become so engrossed that it is hard to multi-task.  So I may write a line or two, but mostly I am watching my boys, and making sure they are staying on task.

I wanted to put this in my entry because co-workers at my second job (the treatment center) looks at my notebook and thinks I don’t do anything all day.  And like I stated, it’s not that I don’t do anything, we have less children, more staff, and the behaviors are not as severe. 

So as I was doodling, on Friday, I started to write a poem.  This poem led to an idea for a book that I am going to start working on.  The idea is a bit different, it is going to include all of my writing styles and storytelling abilities.  I was considering doing a graphic novel, however I would have to find a artist, then have to collaborate with them…it just seemed like a bit much.  I am not going to post the poem in type because it will probably end up in the book, but you can read it on the doodle.

So in conclusion, the doodles are up, enjoy those, and if you have come across this doodle, please leave a comment, hit me up on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/poetfourzerotwo) or listen to my spoken word music on soundcloud (http://www.soundcloud.com/poet402) or, if you really want to support an artist like me, buy a book (http://www.lulu.com/clarencenabraskabarbee) I have some pretty good, and pretty cheap chapbooks up there for you.  Thanks for coming by and enjoy your life!!!...there is a secret poem after the last doodle....yaayy!!

I doodle with my poodle,

put my day on the page

tryin’ to keep the kids calm

so their rage won’t

ruin their days.

We try to keep it easy,

staff with both jobs are

great,

but at the treatment center

some of the staff

be showin’ entitled hate.

I be keepin’ it easy

dressed to the nine,

Monday thru Wednesday,

I be lookin’ fine.

But when Thursday hit,

I get ready for shit,

literally—

because girls at the treatment center

think they playin’ baseball,

and staff got a catchers mitt.

So I dress down,

put my hair up,

in my hat

holdin’ onto my patience

like parents hold on to their

babies.

I love my life, and you better as well

I’m not a saint, but sometimes it feels

that I work with

demons from hell.

New Year, New Goal, Comments & Collaborators Welcome

New day, new year, and so many hopeful aspirations.  My doodles are just chronicles of my day.  As I’ve stated before, I am a server of children.  I am a employee of a public school here in Colorado, and a employee of a girls treatment center and group home.  Yes I do aspire for more as well.  I am a poet, essayist. and writer of short stories.

After having stumbled three years ago I have risen from my knees atop a great mountain of potential that I yearn to see to fruition.  My goals for this upcoming year are these: 1. Retain both jobs, 2. Perform out of town with poetry and my sax (Mona Jezebel, 3. Change my part-time job of working at the treatment center to one of either performing and/or motivational speaking.

I am almost half a month into this new year, and not any closer to these goals.  I am no fool, I will be needing help from anyone who comes across this blog, or my soundcloud page, or facebook, or any social media information that I am putting out.  I need you to comment, spread the word, or have me come to your show and perform.  If you are in the industry of working with youth, at-risk youth especially, please contact me, so I may address your staff or children.

I wish you all a very dear and wonderful good year.  My name is Clarence, aka ‘nabraska’, I have approved this message, and look forward to hearing from you soon.  In the mean time, please scroll down and enjoy the doodles and poetry.

He’s being

mean,

tryin’ to

ruin my

dream of

doin nothin’

tryin’ to

make me

accountable w/goals

of gettin’ to college

some of us

choose to sleep

our life away

if we are not

prodded to wake-up

and make something

out of life

Refuse to

show my blues to you

All you get is

mean mugs, hooded head

& shifting eyes—

if I choose to make

eye contact—

Fuck this; you done

already snapped on

ole boy about dude…..

I see how this do;

Refuse to show

you my blues,

I just put my head

down,

& show you, I’m through.

I see

head on arm;

arm over eyes,

chin resting on

two stacked fist

& one chin resting

on book

No one reading

seeing too many

pairs of eyes

 

If I color 

like a child

my creativity w/changes

has a better chance

to maintain itself &

grow.

She was ok 

w/her attacker

going to jail.

Felt guilty about 

all the time

he got b/c of 

her.

Said he kept her in 

a small cardboard like box, 

for no good reason.

kidnapping dogs

ruin little 

girls.

Doodle created at girls treatment center; Friday night 1.10.14

The Beach Post

So I just got back from Mission Beach San Diego.  I had a wonderful time; the people was great, food wonderful, and the beach was magnificent!!  See, upon my arrival in Denver, I was running away from home and was planning to go to the Pacific Ocean.  Well....things got a bit sidetracked (you can check http://newbrothaschronicle.blogspot.com/ to see how things got sidetracked) However, in any case, I never lost sight of my goal of making it to the Pacific Ocean.  This vacation is my testament to endurance, to never losing sight of making a goal and dream reality.  So here are some wonderful pictures of my goal in fruition!

When I arrived, it was night, and the beach was there!!!

ain't night grand??!!!

View From My Room

View from my hotel

Another fab view from my hotel

Castles Made of Sand

This is the bridge I would cross to get to the beach, scared of heights but I did it!!!

I like to call this, the three wise men, or birds, love wild life in Cali!!

Ya Boy @ Peace

Proof that dreams come true!