Writing Through is a conceptual writing workshop conducted by our board member, Sue Guiney, every year. The workshop breaks down barriers between student and teacher while establishing mutual respect, thus creating a safe space for learning which encourages students to think in new ways, investigating and sharing their dreams and experiences. This year the children collaborated on the theme of the 'The Natural World' and used our garden for inspiration. This magazine brings alive the week long workshops through poems and other writings.

1.
MAGAZINE
The Natural World
By the Writers from Anjali House January 2019
FACILITATED BY: FOR:
Sue Guiney
WITH:
Barbara Rittner
Jess Blackledge

2. Suos d’ei,
I am very pleased to introduce to you Anjali House’s Writing Through magazine for 2019.
The relationship between Anjali House and Writing Through is a very special one. This is where the
first Writing Through workshops were held, and our year always begins with a new workshop with
these very special students.
This year, we explored the big idea of The Natural World in our poems and stories. As usual, we used
our brainstorming technique to help us imagine and think creatively about this topic. But this year
we did something new. We used our very own garden as the springboard for our efforts. Our
creativity on the page grew out of our creativity in the garden where together with all the Anjali
family we have learned not only how to grow our own food, but why it is important to ourselves and
our community. Working with our hands in the soil is in itself a creative act. Turning that work into
new thoughts expressed in new language is something very special.
I have loved working with each of these students, as always. They have each shown industry,
bravery, diligence and persistence, as well as selflessness and love. I am proud to be their teacher.
Special thanks go to Try Sophany, the Young Adult Program Coordinator, for her help and sensitivity.
I also want to thank Anjali’s Director, Ke Simon, Head Teacher, Dim Bun Thorng and volunteer Annie
Sharp for their support of these students’ creativity. Also, thanks go out to my Shadows, Writing
Through Assistant Director, Jess Blackledge and Facilitator, Barbara Rittner, for their many
contributions to the week’s efforts.
But of course, special thanks go to the students themselves for their hard work, their sense of
humor, and their trust.
I hope you enjoy the poems and stories in this year’s magazine. They represent the dreams and
hopes of our children, which provide an important reminder to those of us who might have
forgotten our own.
Samnang laor,
Sue
Sue Guiney, Facilitator
Founder and Director of Writing Through

3. Under the Blue Sky
a group poem by the writers of Anjali House
There was an Earth
There was life
There was a plant
Green, small, good smell
Mixing together with lots of color
A lot of animals are near
We take care of them
In a small farm.
We feel happy
We like to take care of them
They are our lives
We need them to eat
We have energy
We are healthy
We grow up
We can work a lot
We can do anything we want.

4. Life in a Limited World
A group poem by the writers of Anjali House: Advanced Group
We are in one Earth
Growing together
Time passes day by day
All of us are changing
We are not protecting but
we are destroying
Earth is like a journey
Where we decide and set
what it will be.
We are part of nature
we can work together
to protect it
and save our lives
Earth helps us
but Earth needs us
It must be balanced.

5. ​Beauty of the Garden
By Suki, Age 17
In the garden, there are many things
people sound, taste, vegetables
it’s so small but have fun
when we work together
sweat, laugh, action, beautiful all come out.
The sunshine comes and the water everyday
I smell sponge flower, sound in the garden
like music that I listen to.
Makes me so fresh to see a fruitful result
we get a lot, every month.

6.
The Garden View
By Phanna, Age 14
In the garden, it’s very beautiful
It has a lot of plants, animals, people
They are busy working
I see a lot of people working, saying, doing
and birds fly in the air
They are happy to work in the garden.
I taste bananas, mangoes, long beans, winter melon, papaya
and a lot more
They eat so much and work more
I feel so fresh
I hear them water the plants, walk, talk, do work and
they work so happily
They feel so fresh
when their work is finished.

7. A Special Gift
By Reatrey, Age 15
There was a planet
with beautiful creatures
who live in the forest with the nature.
The sun is shining
The fresh air comes
The flowers are blossoming
The bees are ready for the war
There was a life
Living happily with their family
in the small town, they work
in the beautiful garden
it tastes sweet for them
to live among the planet again.

8. ​How the Garden Makes Us Feel
By Sreyleak, Age 15 and Sovannarith, Aged 14
When I’m in the garden
I can listen to the bird sound
It makes me fresh
I smell grass
I smell compost, it is smelly
the sweet basil smells good.
I touch pineapple trees and banana trees
when I touch them I feel good
I see flowers blooming and people
I see people working in the garden
they work a lot like watering the
okra, chilli, tomato, passion, onion
I hear them say it is very hot
but they are happy.

9. ​Feeling in the Garden
By Sreyphai Age 14 and Pheaktra, Age 15
After the garden, I feel tired
It’s so hot because of the sunshine
In the garden there is a lot of flowers
It’s so beautiful with the blue sky
I see the birds over the trees
I feel good when I see the colorful garden
It’s like heaven.
I like to eat the fruit
some sweet, some sour
I feel bad when I smell rotten fruit.
Luckily, I see the butterfly over the flowers
I feel good
working in the garden.
I have a lot of feelings mixed together
I love everything in our garden.

10. My Garden
By Karona, Age 15
There was a big garden
It was so beautiful
There were a lot of plants
Green, good smell, yellow
There were a lot
Of people working
They work in the garden
They work hard
They feel happy when they work together
They feel sad when they are hot, tired
But, they feel happy to help in the garden
Gardens can teach me not to be lazy
When I work in the garden I feel good
I like to help in the garden

11. The Big Garden
By Vatey, Age 15
When I am in the garden
I see a flower, a little insect
And the smell is very good.
In the garden there are a lot of
banana trees, lots of onions.
When I touch a wall
people come and say
can you get a shirt for me.
I hear the people speaking
noisy and happy, playing.
I like the smell of the sponge flower.
I am so happy in the garden.
Everything About the Garden is Good
By Sokea, Age 14
In the little garden
were a lot of things
A lot of plants are growing
banana, eggplant, mango, chilli,
tomato, okra, salad.
I see a lot of people working.
I taste mint. It is bitter.
I feel fresh.
I smell lemongrass.
It smells good.
I see green Nature.
The birds are singing.
Being in the garden is good for relaxing.

12. Advanced Group Poems
Protecting the Garden
By Vandy, Aged 17
Plants are growing
Insects are destroying
Humans are protecting
The Sun is burning
This is the garden.
Protect what you grow
otherwise you will lose it
The garden can help you
earn money
have food
make your house beautiful
So take care of it.

13. Windy Evening
By Buntha, Age 18
Beautiful, windy evening
some feel fresh
and some feel blue
My feelings are like small leaves
blowing in the wind
Memory of childhood
comes up
In the middle of the garden
Fresh morning glory in the river
Cooking an awesome dish
with Mum.
Protect Nature
By Narong, Age 18
The nature is my home.
I promise to keep it
Healthy and beautiful
I will save the land
I want to protect nature
it is important because
they give us fresh air, water
and all living animals.
I will be the defender of my nature
until with my family.
I will save the nature.
I will love land
I will save the nature.

14. Open then Close
By Oudom, Age 17
The volcano explodes in the earth
The old generation of nature
Falls into the dark abyss
The sound of silence
Brightness of generations updated
Provide struggle, animals are the role model for humans
The shadow of humans makes nature frightened.

15. Nature’s Love
By Daley, Age 17
I fall in love with nature
flowers trees, plants and fruits
and helping me to grow well.
Nature gives me houses, parks
foods and fruits. I feel fresh and
comfortable with nature.
Nature gives me many kinds of things
so I must give hope for nature
by starting to grow trees
flowers and plants around my house
also anywhere else.

16.
Every Life is Worthy
By Borith, Age 18
Listen to the sound of plants
They’re crying, they’re begging
They need you to be with them
Where are you?
Take a deep breath and close your eyes
Listen to the sound that floats in the air
Let it go through your ears and touch your heart
Nature always gives you something
Do not be careless with the gift.
It gives you flowers you smell
It gives you food you eat
be fair to the life that gives
you the air to breathe.

17.
Quiet Path
By Sokuam
Living a great life in this journey
Walking a great way with nobody to know
a field of green grass, beautiful flowers
animals singing in front of me
a big mountain, many big trees. It is
a wonderful way but people don’t know.
Telling alone, asking myself
am I doing right or wrong?
But I know clearly who I am.
So I know this is the best way
even if I am alone.
My Feeling Plants
By Chanpi, Age 18
I walk into the garden
I see dancing lemongrass
It looks happy with the wind
Butterflies flying around the garden
with the wind, crying birds.
I feel good, smell the flowers
I take an umbrella when it rains.

18. Be Like the Nature
By Sokly, Age 16
Beautiful nature is dancing along the wind
The sun is shining with a colorful view
The beautiful butterflies are flying around
Feeling happy and loving it
Nature is trying to grow, trying to prove the
obstacle
To get out of the hard land
To see the sun shine
And give hope to the humans
Touch the wind, do you feel it?
Please breathe and imagine.
The Beautiful Garden
By Siengly, Age 17
Walk step by step
Think of the beautiful garden
Feel delighted to see the plants grow well.
Hear the sound of the birds
Touch the plant with hand
Taste the new plant
My heart is in the garden
Try hard and work hard
Together to have the successful garden.

19. We Feel the Same
By Srey Len, Age 18
I walk into the garden
I see struggling plants
They are trying to go beyond the obstacle
to survive, to live their own lives.
It is easier for them to die than to live.
We are like the plants
We struggle to go beyond the obstacle
It is easier for us to die than to live
so we need help from each other.
They give us food
We give them water, fertilizer
to feel balanced.
Sound of Nature
By Vicheka, Age 17
When I walk into the garden
I hear some sound of animals
I see some plants start to grow
To show their new leaves
And new life to the world
To see the sun and touch the wind
To feel soft and fresh
And smell the soil
To grow good and bring new hope
New smile for the farmer
To be happy with their plants.

20. Summer Season
A Group Story by the Writers of Anjali House
I​n January, in the summer, there was a poor
family who worked very hard in the hot sun.
There was a handsome man, his name was
Vichet. He had a wife. Her name was Bopha.
They had three children, two girls and a boy.
The children studied at a school far from the
house. The boy, Vibol, was in grade 8. One
girl, who was in grade 9, was called Sreyka.
The other girl whose name was Chantrea, was
in grade 4.
They lived together in a small village
near a mountain. The people kept the village
clean. There were a lot of trees. The farmer
worked in his field, near the mountain. That
year, the farmer was trying to plant his crops
but the sun was too hot. He did not have
enough water to drink, or for the plants. So
the farmer got sick, but because the farmer was sick, the children did not want to
go to school. They wanted to stay home to help their father. But their mother said
they must go to school and so they did. Their father was getting more and more
sick.
One day an old doctor from the city came to the village. She saw that the
farmer was sick. The doctor asked the wife, ‘’How did your husband get sick and
how long has he been sick for?’’
Bopha said, ‘’He has been sick for one month. He was working hard in the
hot sun and he got a fever and his body hurts. He does not eat enough, he is very
weak.’’
The doctor said ‘’He needs to rest and eat more. I will come every day to
give medicine and an injection. He will then get better.’’ She advised ‘’When the
rains come, store the water so you have enough for yourself and your crops, and
keep the water clean.’’ One week later, the farmer started to get better and his
crops started to grow more.
That year in the rainy season, there were big rainstorms. The farmer and his
wife remembered the advice of the doctor. They stored the water and kept it clean
and the farmer did not get sick again, and the family lived happily.

21. Bob’s Wonderful Holiday
A Group Story by the Writers of Anjali House: Advanced Group
Bob is an eight year old boy and he is having a vacation in his hometown.
He is clever and funny and he is a good boy. It is the dry season and the weather is
getting very hot. One day he decides to go for a walk outside the village. He is
alone but he is not frightened. He is excited.
On the way, while he is walking he sees a lot of interesting things like a
temple and a big tree. Suddenly, he sees a giant scarecrow. It has big eyes, a
coconut head and bad teeth. It is fat and tall and he is holding a broom. Bob sees
it and is afraid because it looks like a giant. Bob wonders, “What is this?” He runs
to a big tree and climbs on top. He thinks he is in a safe place but suddenly a bee
comes to him and stings him in the neck. Bob falls out of the tree and screams
“Ouch!”
Bob falls on top of the scarecrow. The scarecrow says, “Hey son, what are
you doing?” Bob faints and the scarecrow catches him. At midnight Bob finally
wakes up and finds the scarecrow is still holding him. But he falls asleep again. In
the morning he wakes up and sees he is in a beautiful garden. He wonders, “how
did I get here?” The scarecrow is gone and Bob is alone.
Bob feels fresh as everything around him is fresh. He hears the sound of
the waterfall, bees and the birds singing. He feels wonderful. Bob wonders how
this happened and he wants this place in his village, too. The scarecrow comes and
says, “I made this place. If you want to
make a place like this too I can teach
you.” Bob is not afraid of the
scarecrow anymore. He says to the
scarecrow, “Please teach me because I
want to have a beautiful garden like this
place.”
The next year, when Bob comes
to visit he sees that every house has a
beautiful garden. He knows it is
because of him.

22. The Good Neighbors
By Vatey Age 15, Sreypha Age 15 and Pheaktra Age 16
​ It was morning, on Thursday 17 January 2019. In the garden there was a red ant
and a black ant. They were neighbors. They lived in the small land in the garden.
They liked to help each other. They couldn’t fly so they only walked. They could
talk to each other to find food in the dry season. They worked hard together so
they have food.
One day the ants were walking together and they heard the caterpillar singing. They
saw that the caterpillar was lazy. He was not working. The caterpillar was hungry.
He threatened the ants and said ‘’I will steal your food.’’ The ants were scared of
the caterpillar. The ants said ‘’You are hungry because you are lazy!’’ The caterpillar
said “Yes, you are right,” and the caterpillar went away and found food for him
and the ants said ‘’Wait, we can help you!.’’ The ants and the caterpillar are now
working together everyday. They are good neighbors.

23. The Farmer and the Ladybird
By Sokea Age 14, Reatrey Age 15 and Karona Age 15
​ In the rainy season, there was a man from France who was a farmer in
Cambodia. He was a single man. He was tall with
blonde hair, blue eyes and his name was John. He
was a kind person. His farm was not too big and not
too small. The plants were beautiful and they grew
very fast because he always put the fertilizer and
watered them everyday.
One rainy night there was a big storm. The thunder
was very loud but there was no lightning. The next
morning, John went outside and found a flood! The
flood was one meter deep. When he saw the plant
dying, his heart was broken. He just wanted to sit and
waste time because he was so sad. John was about to
go home but suddenly he heard a noise. It was very
quiet but he could still hear a small voice saying
‘’Help me! Help me! I can’t swim!’’ He couldn’t see
anyone so he asked ‘’Who are you?’’ He felt scared
and his heart was beating faster and his body was shaking. The voice said, ‘’Look
down! I am a ladybird. My name is Pisey and I can’t swim and I’m dying!’’ John
looked down and he saw a ladybird drowning in the water. He put his finger in the
water and started to laugh because he had never seen a talking ladybird before!
’’Quick! Take my finger!’’ She took it and he pulled her out. Pisey said ‘’Thank you
for helping me.’’ John said ‘’No problem, you’re welcome.’’

24. The Magic Caterpillar
By Phanna, Age 14, Srey Leak Age 14, Suki Age 16, Sovannarith Age 16
In 2015, in the morning there was a gardener named Virak. He was 45 years
old. He lived in a poor family. Virak was good looking. One day, Virak went to
the garden to look at the eggplant garden. He walked through to the eggplants and
saw a caterpillar on a leaf. Virak took
the caterpillar to a big tree. Virak said,
“I don’t want to kill you.” And Virak
continued his work.
The next day Virak went back to
work in the garden and he saw the
caterpillar again. He asked the
caterpillar, “Why did you come here
again?” Suddenly, the caterpillar said to
Virak, “I come here not to harm you. I
just want to see your beautiful garden.
I see you work hard.” The gardener
was surprised the caterpillar could
speak. The caterpillar disappeared.
The gardener came back the next
day and saw that many leaves had
turned to gold. The gardener felt excited. He cut the gold leaves to show his
mother. His mother took the gold leaves and sold them. With the money, they
were able to build a beautiful home. Virak came back to the garden to thank the
caterpillar but the caterpillar had turned in to a beautiful woman. The gardener
married the woman and they lived in the beautiful house.

25. The Inspiration of Plants
By Borit Age 18, Siengly and Age 17 and Vicheka Age 17.
In a rural area, there is a big free land near the mountain. The land has a lot of
big rocks, bushes, and the soil is very hard. The villagers want to use that land to
do farming but they don’t have enough ability to rent modern machinery to clear
and prepare the land.
At that time, there is a man who has curly black hair and a big belly that comes
from the city. He has invested some money in that land. About two weeks later,
the land was prepared but he didn’t have any employees to manage the land for the
farming. He announced that he was looking for workers. The announcement took
only two days and then it was full of workers. They started planting many kinds of
vegetables and fruits. Three months later they harvested the crops in the farm. But
it didn’t fit what the boss expected. He blamed the workers but he didn’t know
how the workers felt. Because the land was so hard, it was hard to plant. But still
the workers tried as hard as they could to make things better and they really tried
hard and worked hard.
In the next three months it was time to harvest again. This time, the workers
made the boss very shocked. Because of their patience, even though their boss
blamed them without knowing what the soil was like, what the weather was like
and the obstacles with planting, they still pleased him with their results. After that,
their boss inspired them to do their work, and the workers inspired the boss, too.

26. Strange Chicken
By Sokuam Age 17, Narong Age 18 and Chanpi Age 18
​Two years ago, there was a group of youth having a party together at Som’s house.
While they were eating food, they saw a very colorful and bright chicken. Som
asks, “What’s that thing?”, “It’s a chicken” said Som’s friends. Then Som said
loudly, “Let’s catch it!!” Everyone ran to catch that chicken. The chicken ran
quickly away and jumped into the cupboard. Then no one could find it. But then
Som said it is in the cupboard and they all ran into the cupboard, too.
After they got outside of a very dark place everything they saw surprised
them. In front of them there was a world full of beautiful nature. There was a
very high waterfall, a very big forest of very big grass, vegetables, lemongrass, tall
trees with very big flowers, singing sounds of animals, tiny little elephants and
other creatures. Som said, “Where is this place? Why are all the big things
becoming tiny and all the small things becoming huge?” But there was no answer
for him. After that they all started to walk in to this strange world. While they
were walking there was something shining in front of them. It was a really tiny
golden coin. Som took it and prepared to go and find more coins and to find his
chicken. But suddenly there was a very strange and huge sound of creatures
running to them. “Run,” said Som’s friends. Som turned back and saw his
chicken but it was very big and strong. The chicken was trying to catch them but
they ran very fast. They tried to hide themselves under lemongrass. But the
chicken pulled out the lemongrass and tried to catch them again. They quickly ran
away and jumped back in to the cupboard. “Ha, ha ha!’’ laughed Som’s friends
because when the chicken jumped into the cupboard it became normal. Som took
the chicken and walked out of his house to make sure that everything else was
normal.
Suddenly a very strange thing happened to him. The earth started to
tremble and his golden coin jumped from his pocket and became a very huge
golden coin. He brought that coin to his family to help the poor people in the
village.

27.
The Couple’s Secret Garden
By Daley Age 17, Srey Len Age 18 and Sokly Age 16
​ Joe and Ddu were a young couple. Joe was 16 years old and he was nasty but
smart. Ddu was 15 years old and she was beautiful and a nice girl. They had a big
garden behind their house. In their garden there were lots of things such as
lemongrass, morning glory, pineapple, eggplants, banana trees and lots of green
plants.
In summer, the weather wasn’t very hot. The plants grew very well, but
there was a secret that the young couple didn’t know. Their plants could talk!
Every night they heard some noise from their garden. Every morning they always
rode on their buffalo called Anuk, to check their garden. Suddenly, Anuk stepped
on some sponges’ hands. Suddenly, the sponges shouted very loudly ‘’Ouch!’’ Then
the couple saw that their plants could talk. They felt surprised. Also, some animals
like frogs and toads could talk, too. They all worked together to help the sponges
and all the plants said, ‘We must help each other because we are in one family.’’
From that time on, the young couple and plants were living together happily.

28.
Jock the Caveman
By Buntha Age 18, Oudom Age 17 and Vandy Age 18
There is a dark, scary cave and in the cave lives a man called Jock who has a
lot hair and is tall and skinny. He never sees the sun and doesn’t even know what
is nature.
One night, while he was sleeping, he dreamt that outside of his cave there
was a place full of big tall trees, a waterfall, animals and also the beautiful shine
from the sun that he can’t imagine. When he woke up he decided to discover the
place that he dreamed of. When he was outside of the cave, he saw something that
looked like what he had dreamed. He was shocked and wondered why did I not
know about this place before? So, he decided to continue to walk around.
While he was busy looking at beautiful nature suddenly he heard a sound,
“crack, crack!” So, he walked toward the sound. When he arrived there, he was
very surprised because there were a group of people cutting down the tree and
killing the wild animals. He didn’t even know what to do so he started to think
that if he is still watching this place there will be a line of dust. He alone went to
talk to the group of people to try to stop the action but they didn’t even listen so a
fight began. While they were fighting against each other, tigers, an elephant and a
lion came to chase the bad people away.

29.
Helpful Tips to Keep You Writing!
In your workshop with Writing Through, you learned several techniques
which you can use at home. These will help you continue to write and grow in your ability to
translate your thinking and feeling into words that are uniquely you.
Use your Magic
Pencil!
The Magic Pencil helps to transport you to a place that is different
from your everyday life. Using it helps to create a ritual, and ritual
allows us to step outside of our norms and respond to things in
new ways. We also suggest finding a notebook or journal which
you use solely for your writing. That will work the same magic as
your Magic Pencil.
Read out loud! When you read what you have written out loud, you can hear the
words in your own voice. Then ask yourself these questions:
Do you like what you hear?
Does this sound like you?
Do you stumble when you say some of the words you’ve written?
If anything that you have written doesn’t feel right, or doesn’t
really express what you want to say, then change it. It can also be
helpful to do your out-loud reading in a different place from where
you did your writing. A change of scene can often make you see
what you have written with greater objectivity and clarity.
Don’t forget your
brainstorm!
Before you start, grab your Magic Pencil and start to brainstorm
about a very general idea or topic which you want to write about.
Make your list of words or phrases as wide and varied as you want.
Don’t edit yourself​. Write down whatever pops into your head. This
will get you started and might well bring up some new ideas that
you didn’t even know you had.

30. The Four Rules of Writing Through
1. Do not think!
Relax, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Let words and ideas pop
into your head, even if you do not know why they did.
2. Use the ​back​ of your brain.
The ideas that live in the front of your brain are the everyday,
not-so-exciting ideas. We want to hear about the unique and special
ideas that live in the ​back ​of your brain inside your imagination.
3. Write with your ears.
Words have meanings ​and​ sounds. Listen to the sounds of words and
letters. When choosing words for your poems and stories, think about
how the words sound.
4. You cannot make a mistake. (No mistakes.)
This is the most important rule. Do not worry about making a mistake.
If you have an idea and it comes from your head or your heart, then it
is right. It is not a mistake. ​Never​ ​worry about being wrong!

31.
Do you have more ideas? Write them here…

32.
NOT THE END…KEEP OPENING YOUR
IMAGINATION!