Here are the 13th annual Words on Wheels winners! We invite you to read the poems and view the artwork of our budding student poets and artists.

MTA Communication and Marketing interns Toroes Thomas and Mandelson Flevrival were present and created this fabulous video of the 2012 WOW presentation.

The participating Baltimore City Students are: Joseph Sanchez-Cruz, Vivian Borbash, Raequan Trusty, Sean Thompson, Ayah A. Brown,  Akiera Copeland, Maria Aranda-Lopez, Prince Tarwo, DaSean Fleming, Kirsten Russell and Patricia Young

The participating M.F.A. in Illustration Practice students are: Nargol Arefi, Sara Barnes, Jun Cen, Dingding Hu, Lisa Perrin, Aehee Shin, Tong Su, Yuanjin Wei and Jennifer Yoo.

Words on Wheels is supported by Maryland Department of Transportation, Goldsmith Family Foundation, Inc. and MICA's Office of Community Engagement.

• Water Movement

  Student: Sean Thompson
  Artist: Sara Barnes
  Student's grade: 4th Grade
  School: Violetville Elementary/Middle School
  Teacher: Micaela Gramelis
  Poem: Water Movement

  

  The ocean water is so beautiful.
  I love it so much.
  It's so smooth.
  I love floating.
  It just makes me look so beautiful.
  I can just pass out.
  I love the animals in the ocean: blowfish, catfish.
  Water makes me think of heaven!

• Snowfall

  Student:  Vivian Borbash
  Artist: Nargol Arefi
  Student's grade:  6th
  School:  Roland Park Elementary/Middle School
  Teacher's name:  Philip Zimmerman
  Poem: Snowfall

  

   

  The greatest part of winter
  Is the snowfall
  It covers the ground in a cold white blanket
  It's the best part of all
  Shaping the snow into ball shapes
  And letting them fly through the sky
  Then afterward, when your lips are blue and your feet cold,
  You warm up inside
  With some hot apple cider or cocoa
  And are fully satisfied
  Finally content
  When the snowfall takes over the ground

• Visiting Dallas Texas

  Student: Akiera Copeland
  Artist: Dingding Hu
  Student’s grade:  10th
  School: Northwestern High School
  Teacher: Allison Godart
  Poem: Visiting Dallas Texas
  

  Slowly enjoying the breeze
  Flowing through my soft hair
  Enjoying every sight I pass by.
  Daydreaming about what I will see when I reach
  My final destination.
  Waiting for the chance
  I get to spend with you.
  The wonderful sights you’ll show me.
  I wish this day would never end.
  My final wish is to lie in your arms.
  Feeling safe, warm, loved, and happy.
  Then wake up still in your arms
  Eating ice cream and watching a scary movie
  I love you and being in Dallas.

• Stars

  Student: Stella Nass
  Artist: Jennifer Yoo
  Student’s grade: 5th
  School: The Mount Washington School
  Teacher: Margaret May
  Poem: Stars
  

  Shooting, falling,
  Staying, stalling,
  Blinking and receding,
  They hold your wish,
  Under a moonlit sky.

  A tie-dye,
  A perfect sky,
  Glitter on a charcoal.
  A story, a poem, a life,
  A beauty and a wonder.

  A reflection of another’s story,
  The big dipper isn’t shy.
  All of this, you just read,

  I see in a starlit sky.

   

• Tree of Life

  Student: Kirsten Russell
  Artist:Tong Su
  Student’s grade: 7th
  School: The Midtown Academy
  Teacher: Whitney Ward
  Poem: The Tree of Life

  

  Starts as a seed,
  That will plant a tree we need.

  The seed begins to grow,
  What will happen? I don’t know.

  When the tree has grown up,
  All of its problems begin to erupt.

  Love, laughter, haters, and trust,
  Joy, struggle, sweetness, and lust.

  It tries to conquer all,
  But the tree starts to fall.

  The weight of life is too heavy,
  For the tree to carry.

  So the tree begins to cry,
  Because soon it will surely die.

• Ice Cream at the Mall

  Student: Joseph Sanchez-Cruz
  Artist: Nargol Arefi
  Student’s grade: 2nd
  School: Holabird Academy
  Teacher: Leanne Riordan
  Poem: Ice Cream at the Mall

  

  Ice Cream
  White
  Cold
  Sweet
  Sundays
  At the mall
  Ice Cream

• At the Aquarium

  Student: Raequan Trusty
  Artist': Sara Barnes
  Student’s grade: 2nd
  School: Holabird Academy
  Teacher: Leanne Riordan
  Poem:  At the Aquarium

  

  At the aquarium
  I saw a dwarf caiman.
  I touched the glass.
  I smelled the fish’s water.
  I heard a fish bubbling.

   

• Bullseye

  Student: DaSean Fleming
  Artist: Tong Su
  Student’s grade: 8th
  School: KIPP: Ujima Village Academy
  Teacher: Jason Farber
  Poem: Bullseye

  

  We aim for greatness
  and miss at times.
  We follow our hearts
  but break the rules.
  Build a better future
  with a mind of tools.
  We let our fears
  delay our goals.
  We try to take power
  that is not meant to be controlled.
  The heart of you
  is the heart of me.
  Equality is something
  the brave believe.
  Life is short
  but time is forever.
  You can never have the best
  because the best only gets better.

• Best Friends

  Student: Patricia Young
  Artist: Yuanjin Wei
  Student’s grade: 11th
  School: Friendship Academy of Science and Technology
  Teacher: Lauren Greber
  Poem: Best Friends

  

  tighter than your favorite
  pants

  the one you took to your junior
  dance

  the one you tell
  all your secrets to

  and he or she would never tell
  anyone about you

  the one who’s going to be
  by your side

  through thick and thin

  your best friend

• Who Am I?

  Student: Maria Aranda-Lopez
  Artist: Lisa Perrin
  Student’s grade: 6th
  School: Cross Country Elementary/Middle School
  Teacher: Suzanne Dolan
  Poem: Who Am I?

  

  I am a banana split with whipped cream and two juicy cherries.
  I am a book, funny and loving.
  I am a TGI-Friday on a sunny afternoon.
  I am a rainbow with beautiful colors.
  I am a T-bone steak with smooth mashed potatoes and a yummy shrimp cocktail.
  I am Kung Fu with a shiny, brown sash on 3rd degree.
  I am The Call of Duty on boring evenings.
  I am a Hershey Bar with crunchy cookies and smooth cream.
  I am a tough Spanish girl that loves colorful food.
  I am a bag of hot fries. I am the me I want to be!

• Love from a Dove

  Student: Prince Tarwo
  Artist: Aehe Shin
  Grade: 7th
  School: Beechfield Elementary/Middle School
  Teacher: Cori McGrail
  Poem: Love from a Dove

  

  Spread your wings, heal all my stings
  O Dove, O Dove, Are you sent from above
  O beautiful bird fly away
  Shine as bright as the day
  You show me passion for that is why I show compassion
  I enjoy your company
  It’s almost as if we were destiny
  Your love isn’t cruel
  But together we rule
  One of a kind, you will always be mine
  I will always have time to make it shine
  Our trust is strong
  Which made a stronger bond
  As my days go by, you are always by my side
  White as a beautiful snowflake

• Sans Abri/Homeless

  Student: Ayah A. Brown
  Artist: Jun Cen
  Student’s grade: 3rd
  School: Baltimore International Academy Elementary/Middle School
  Teacher: Kassoum Coulibaly
  Poem: Sans Abri/Homeless

  

  Les sans-abri S'il vous plaît, madame, écoutez! Je suis très, très effrayé. S'il vous plaît, monsieur, attendez! Je voudrais quelque chose à manger. S'il vous plaît, madame, écoutez! Je suis faim et fatiguée. C'est le chant de la jeune fille. Elle est froide et sans-abri. Oui, c'est le chant de la jeune fille. Elle est froide et sans-abri.

  The homeless Please, ma'am, listen! I am very, very scared. Please, sir, wait! I want something to eat. Please, ma'am, listen! I am hungry and tired. This is the song of the girl. She is cold and homeless. Yes, the song of the girl. She is cold and homeless.

• One Person, One Life, One Word

  Student: Joy Njoroge
  Artist: Jennifer Yoo
  Student’s grade: 7th
  School: Afya Public Charter School       
  Teacher: Lora Reed
  Poem: One Person, One Life, One Word

  

  One person
  One Life
  One Word
  Can Make a Difference 

  Any person
  Their life
  Their words
  Can Make a Difference

  Just because you’re small
  Doesn’t mean you can’t do it

  Just because you’ve never been able to
  Doesn’t mean you never will

  You
  Your life
  Your words
  Can Make a Difference
  The Power of One!