(Un)heard Voices

We're excited to feature emerging writers with unique stories:
Ella Wen, K.L., Rosie Angelica Alonso, Karo Ska, Michelle Ibarra, Remi Graves, Alberto G, Francis Smith, Jahan Khalighi, Tajae Brown, Chelsea Dillaha, Sanam Sulveen, Dominic Lim, Andrea Torres, Tiana Altman and Sofia Kerrigan. We are proud to present more voices of youth in our anthologies, Poems from Below and Why Does This Poem Have to End?

Ella Wen is the Sonoma County Poet Laureate and the 2021 Sonoma County Winner of Poetry Out Loud, awarded Honorary Mention at the California State Finals. She is a freshman at Maria Carrillo High School and adores the arts, especially writing poetry. It helps her orchestrate her thoughts, where her heart is the rhythm. She hopes to spread societal awareness and new perspectives through the written voice. Cascading Rambles is part of her collection of poems, marking her first publication.

Gunshots are muffled by crystal clear piano solos
Played on the lovely ivory keys of our world . . .
Melodies that chant that the world is okay

Rosie Angelica Alonso was born in East L.A and received an MFA in poetry from Cal State University, San Bernardino. Her poetry recounts stories of the working class people in the barrios, the myths of La Virgen Roachalupe, and the overlooked Chicano punk culture in East Los Angeles. Her poetry collection, The Cockroach Manifesto, is forthcoming in 2020. Whoa Nelly Press is delighted to vote How to Befriend Cockroaches as the new (inter)national anthem.

Grant the cucarachas official citizenship
Print a legal document welcoming them into your home
I hereby declare thee, cucarachas, of the United States of Familia . . .

Karo Ska (she/they) is a South Asian & Eastern European non-binary femme poet, living on occupied Tongva Land (aka Los Angeles) with their black cat muse. Anti-capitalist & anti-authoritarian, they find joy where they can. grandma's hands, a beautifully voiced poem of skillfully interwoven strands of identities, is from their first chapbook, gathering grandmothers' bones, which was released on February 29th, 2020. For updates, follow them on Instagram @karoo_skaa or check out their website karoska.com.

My dripping fingers weave
gnarled amino acids, revealing
an ancient script: I was not intentional
yet I’m here . . .

From a young child, Gordon Blitz was called a girlie, fag, queer, and homo. Getting towel whipped, stomach punched and spit on were part of his world. His father, who died after Gordon’s Bar Mitzvah, berated him with shouts of “Walk straight.” Gordon never found his writer’s voice until he retired in 2017 and became a passionate writing machine. His publications include his novella Shipped Off (print and audiobook), in such publications as Wingless Dreamer, Two Hawks Quarterly, Issue #22 of Really Systems, and Gay Wicked Ways. Ten of his autobiographical stories are available on the Queer Slam Episode 21, podcast “Just Gordon.” https://soundcloud.com/queerslam/. Blog: https://culturecritique.blog/.
Gordon dedicates his work to all the sissies in the world who need to tell their stories so it is
understood how We got here.

Jahan Khalighi is a poet, spoken word artist, musician, and educator who is passionate about the way creative expression can facilitate personal and social transformation, beautifully portrayed in What You See. He was a two-time member of the Eugene Poetry Slam Team and Co-Founder of CommuniTree an arts, ecology and social justice project based out of Oakland, CA. He served as a poet teacher for June Jordan's Poetry For The People program at UC Berkeley and currently teaches as a poet-in-residence for California Poets In The Schools. He is a member of the Justice Arts Collective a multicultural group of poets, musicians, dancers dedicated to social justice through the arts and community building.

When you think Middle Easterner
You say
Terrorist, suicide bomber,
flag burner, ISIS
But you don’t smell the intoxicating
aromas of my grandmother's kitchen . . .
\

Michelle Ibarra was a junior at a high school specializing in the arts when she wrote this poem. She was the 2017 guest spoken word artist at the Alliance for Girls Women's Conference, a 2017 semifinalist in the Youth Speaks Poetry Slam Competition and the 2017 runner up in the SF Poetry Out Loud Competition. She hopes to further pursue poetry and share her personal story with others. To Love A Latina illuminates the love, inspiration and empowerment that Michelle brings to her audiences.

If the Spanish language is chile setting fire to their gums
Our lips are ghost peppers, marinated with la lengua de nuestros antepasados . . .

Remi Graves is based in London and currently pursues the things she loves, namely writing poetry and playing the drums. She is a member of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective and co-presents a monthly radio show called the Two Step. Her poem Ghosts of Gao was inspired by the banning of music in Mali. Click here to see Remi performing live!

Perceived by mobile phones and pairs of eyes
But there can be no songs sung to lament this crime
The whole world turns a blind eye . . .

Tajae Brown was a senior at San Francisco Waldorf High school when she wrote this poem and is now attending Howard University. She aspires to be a physician and eventually open up her own clinic in an underserved community. We're thrilled to publish the powerful voice of this young woman who, in her essay Turnaround., exhibits a spirit that refuses to be extinguished.

A number of different people told me not to be so sensitive, despite how many times I was teased and bullied for the color of my skin. I developed a thick hard shell, making it hard for me to open up and be myself around anyone. I grew up a shy kid who never spoke up for herself or demanded much. I settled for what was around me and simply adjusted to flying under the radar. But not anymore . . .

Alberto G is a young poet of many rhythms and feels a strong connection between poetry and music. He has a wealth of talent and mentors and inspires youth based on his own experiences and struggles. He is excited to be published for the first time and to share his Life Story.

Born in 2000, in Ecuador, where everyone in my section was poor
Young age dropped at the door, just an orphan without a family
Some would call that a tragedy, but all was good I was adopted at three . . .

Francis Smith is a California poet with a keen eye for human experience after living a lifetime of it. We are proud to feature his question for all of us in his Do You See? in our rodeo of unheard voices.
When you look in my eyes
Do you feel bold . . . get mesmerized
And try to hold my gaze
Or does the pain you see
Make you catch your breath and turn away?

Boho accountant by day, aspiring storyteller by night with a colorful South Asian heritage, Sanam was on the trajectory of meeting all the checklist items scripted by her first generation, immigrant parents. Fortunately, fate or destiny had different plans and poured whiteout over all her checkmarks. Frustrated, she sat down to write her own checklist when she thought she heard God laughing. She is currently living a content, checklist-free life. Anyone who has ever had a problem with hair (or not) will love Sanam's Prayer for Hair.

In accordance with the advice of a village elder, my father even shaved the peach fuzz on my little head and released it into Lake Michigan as an offering to solicit the help of Dharti Maa[ to grant
me luscious locks that would span the breadth and depth of the waters across the world. And when there were no signs of his prayers being accepted, he resorted to bargaining with God—to take his
hair and give it to me . . .

Dominic Lim is ecstatic to be making his debut as a writer on the Whoa Nelly Press website. After many years working as an actor, singer and classical musician, Dominic has finally decided to make a go at his other great love: writing. He is currently enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing at UC Berkeley. Dominic is an intellectual property paralegal at Amyris, Inc. in Emeryville and is proud to call Oakland his home. We are delighted to feature Dominic's three-part autobiographical short story, Tinago Triptych.
Dear Superman,
I just saw your movie tonight. I want you to know how much I loved it.
You are the most handsome man in the world.
One day I am going to marry you . . .

Andrea Torres is a communications professional in San Francisco. Her passions include cooking, her German Shepherd, the written word and her friends and family. It is with great pleasure that Whoa Nelly Press features Andrea's personal essay, Pisco Sour.

At the age of six my world changed from family gatherings to leaving behind everything and everyone I held dear. The Shining Path, Ascendero Luminoso, a terrorist organization, were kidnapping families, blowing up power plants and instilling terror throughout the country. You never knew if you would come home to power or a house full of melted wax covered appliances because of the candles that littered every surface . . .

Chelsea Dillaha is a 26 year old mother and student currently working towards her high school diploma. She dropped out of her freshman year and decided to come back to finish what she started. Her life has been anything but easy. Even with all these obstacles in front of her, she makes a way to get through the things that were meant to tear her down. You’ll understand her better once you read her poems, Past and My Face. Chelsea is a book you won’t want to put down.
My face is reckless . . .
some see it as art
others do not

"K.L” is a 18 year old poet who became a mother at 14. She grew up in a house of addiction and
violence. Conquered through alcoholism herself and turned her life around. Through poetry
she tells stories of her past and what times of struggle felt like. West Ave & Other Poems are
published for the first time at Whoa Nelly Press.
Violence and colors take over the street
Taggings and numbers only to be seen
Dope and smoke fills the air

Tiana Altman is in her senior year at high school. In her applications to colleges around the country, she was asked to describe herself. She has a rich, complex background, explored in her personal essay, 3.17. We are excited to feature the unique perspective of a young woman who will not let others' assumptions about her to stand in her way.

When looked at deeper, one will learn that I came to the United States and had to learn English. One will learn that I got bullied and isolated and that I come from a broken household that caused me to run away during my freshman year. It will not tell you about the hours I spent in court meeting with my lawyer to resolve family matters . . .

Sofia Kerrigan is a fifth-grade student at Gravenstein Elementary School in Sebastopol. Sofia’s passions are playing sports, reading, and jumping on the trampoline with her five sisters. Sofia hopes to attend Stanford University when she graduates High School. She is excited to share two of her poems, Inside Outside and My Sestina Parts I & 2.
Inside I want people to understand
Outside I understand them
Inside I am wanting everyone to know
Outside I want no one to know

Poems from Below is an anthology of poetry by eighth graders at Bowditch Middle School in Foster City, California. In two one-hour workshops in each classroom, poet-teacher Margo Perin gave a variety of writing prompts to the young poets who wrote based on what was important to them at that moment, on that day, at that time. The poems have not been edited, so that the untethered voices of the poets can be heard in the same manner in which they were written.

The poetry residency was made possible by the support of gifted classroom teachers, Jasmine Amar and Rob Picciotto, who understand and promote the power of the imagination in the lives of youth. Funding was generously provided by Bowditch Middle School PTSA.
I didn't feel it anymore
That heart pounding tongue twisting feeling
That feeling when you try to talk but no words come out
That feeling when you’re happy inside and out
I feel nothing except regret . . .

Why Does This Poem Have to End? is a collection of poetry by fourth graders at John Muir Elementary School who, with the generous funding of California Poets in the Schools, wrote poetry under the tutelage of Whoa Nelly Press co-founder Margo Perin. Classroom teacher Ms. Liebert, one of the finest teachers in San Francisco with her quiet yet insistent belief in superior education for all children, welcomed Margo to lead her students into an exploration of their feelings and imaginations. Ms. Carter, her teacher in training, significantly contributed to the warm, supportive environment in which the children wrote and performed their poems.
Why do there have to be earthquakes
Why do kids have to listen to adults
How does gravity work
Why is there so much violence
Why are there so many planets just over there doing nothing . . .