‘Washing dishes by the seashore with sand and sea water...’
| • | Day-to-day survival haunts childhood |
By Rob Perez
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When Ariel Lewis-Hashimoto, then an eighth-grader at Wai'anae Intermediate School, got an assignment to write a poem, she knew right away what she wanted to write about.
It was the thing that, at the time in 2004, had the biggest effect on her life. She wrote about being homeless.
Ariel's poem touches on the experiences the then-12-year-old had during nine months living on the beach with her parents, two sisters and a brother. Those weren't pleasant experiences, as her poem, "Life's Just Not Fair," reveals.
Today, Ariel is a 10th-grader at Kapolei High School (shown below, at school with cheerleaders behind her). She lives with her grandmother, while her parents — who both have part-time jobs — and two brothers remain on the beach.
One of the hardest things about being homeless, Ariel said, was getting teased by other students at school — something she didn't mention in the poem.
Her mother, Venise Lewis, 35, said her daughter cried a lot because of the teasing.
Ariel, who likes to read mystery novels and write in a journal, said she never got a grade for the poem. But she received an A in the class.
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| Life's Just Not Fair By Ariel Lewis-Hashimoto 6 people sleeping in a 7 by 7 space Feet in my back, hands in my face Trying to keep still not to kick anyone's head Life's Just Not Fair Waking up different times of the night to drinking, breaking of glass, loud music and people in a fight Life's Just Not Fair Waking up before the sun jumping over everybody Trying to get to the sprinklers before it soaks everyone. Life's Just Not Fair Waking up the children before 6 o'clock Getting them ready for school Dressed, hair brushed, face washed, and teeth brushed And off to school. Life's Just Not Fair Breaking down, packing up twice a week Digging ditches to put all our belongings in. Covered up, packed away Police officers driving by praying they don't stop Getting tickets, going to court, trying to pay a fine Hoping you don't get another one Life's Just Not Fair Buying ice all day long to keep food from spoiling in the day's sun Being hot, need ice to keep cool Going to the store That job is never over. Life's Just Not Fair Washing clothes with a little white rock, Hanging clothes hoping that the sun will stay up long enough to dry it. Washing dishes by the seashore with sand and sea water The only way they can come clean Life's Just Not Fair Looking for something to eat in coolers and bags that is still packed away Hoping the gas will last all the way! Life's Just Not Fair Getting everyone's clothes ready Shampoo, conditioners and even soap Walking to the showers and turning it on Taking showers with your clothes Water sometimes warm, but mostly freezing Showering as fast as you can Going into the bathrooms to change hoping there's at least one dry spot! Life's Just Not Fair Setting up tent getting ready for bed One last trip to the restroom Women in the women, Men in the men Or so I thought Smoking dope in the bathroom stalls Women in the mens, Mens in the Womens Asked them nicely to leave They don't even budge Threaten to call the police gets them out Life's Just Not Fair Tampons, pads, toilet paper on the floor Toilets unflush, Oh what a mess! Have to clean up before our last clean all done! Life's Just Not Fair Walking back before turning in Huge rats running around your things Scared to sleep when they are out there Boy it's a rat race! Life's Just Not Fair Back 6 people in a 7 by 7 space End of the rat race and my night and day starts all over again! Life's Just Not Fair! |
Reach Rob Perez at rperez@honoluluadvertiser.com.
