Urban Appalachian Council

Creative Writing

The following selections are taken from UAC's anthology, The Story of Our Lives: Writing from Cincinnati's Urban Appalachian Community. For more information on UAC's writing workshops and other cultural programs, visit the Cultural Programs page or call (513) 251-0202.

Then and Now

I was born in the city to a big family. I was number 6.
This big family, most of them from Kentucky- have memories of grandma's cooking. I can smell it today. Sunday was the best.
Church, piano lessons, camp, mom's little shadow. Family is growing- nieces, nephews, time to grow up.
I remember when my brother and sister became teenagers. It scared me. Mom and Dad were always upset. We kids thought they were crazy.
Then I'm a teenager. I always used to think I'm not as bad as they were. But I remember getting busted.
I got married, had a son. He's sixteen now. He probably thinks I'm the crazy one now.

- Brandi Hatmaker

I Am From

I am from the city, either the smell of wet blacktop or dry leaves.
I am from a humble family which relied on our Irish-Catholic beliefs.
I am from a dangerous place where my daddy taught me to fight.
I am from mom and dad who never stopped trying.
I am from a comfortable home that smells of corned beef and cabbage, soda bread and beer. I am from four other brothers and sisters who never learned to share. We were close, though, and loved each other.
I am from a home where God was the center, and blood was thicker than water.
I am from poor, but never lacked morals and values.
I am from strong people who never give up and keep striving.
I am from writing on a paper bag, front to back, about what I did wrong, and having to hug and kiss my sister when we fought.
I am from a two year old who runs my life and whom I raise with all of the above.

- Nicole Hendley

Curriculum Vitae

I woke up
and I wanted to scream
until I was empty inside
and the noise barricaded me in.
I wanted to cry
through eyes like deserts
and it took an ocean
to show me how.
Words sifted through funnels and strainers
into my life.
They saved me.
They taught me how to save me.
People overcompensate my losses
through calculations and stories that
do not belong to me.
I begin to engrave a picture.
It matters how others
perceive the picture I have fabricated.
It matters like grass on a lawn, two cars in the garage,
and four places set at the table.
The less experienced teach me,
again, what being naïve tastes like.
They climb on my back
and make me strong.
More words leak through the cracks
between want and need
like glue
holding the foundation together.
No flowers grew through the
sealed up crevices
and I balanced everything
to race the clock.
Everyone is in twos
even me
and suddenly there is something I'd miss
if things weren't just the same.

- Sarah Cramer

My Life

People say that I'm going to fall
since I don't want their hand.
I'm a young man that's a little rough.
If I do fall, I'll get back up.
I want to use my own two feet.
I'm done crawling.

I am from the streets that you hear about everyday,
but I have a mind that sits on top of it all.
I grin instead of dropping a tear.
I'm good and still standing.

- Frederick Alexander

Money

I smile when I see green
I don't let the green get to me,
Green makes the world go round, so lets go get it.
If I had enough I could take over the city.
Green makes some people mean, but not me.
Some say green is the root of all evil,
to me green don't affect all the people.
It don't matter, big, tall or small people,
it's how you go about getting your green,
if it takes a toll on you and makes you mean.
Some people think green gives you power;
those type of people, the green makes them sad.
I smile when I see green.
I don't let the green get to me!

- Jared Zloba

Urban Appalachian Council
2115 West Eighth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45204

phone: (513) 251-0202
fax: (513) 557-2542

Web Site by Zeller Web Design

http://www.uacvoice.org/