City of dreams, where palm trees sway,

Love in the skyline, conflict in the way

Lights that dazzle, streets that grind,

L.A.

You’re a beauty and a burden combined.

L.A.—I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else                              Alex

L.A. looks like a living dream, but not all people know its background

The charm of Hollywood compared with gangs.

The Beverly Hills houses compared with poverty.                       Ignacio

This city that I define as my one and only home.

It is full of creativity and inspiration for those who may not even seek it.

It oozes self-expression and sorrow, for it is full of ever-changing waves of just that, change.

My first and maybe my only real perception of what truly loving something can feel like. Valerie

L.A. being a perfect place to live

Many times when I’m driving

L.A. is amazing and scary

With scary moments I’m still living here                                    Anthony

L.A. is the city of passion and love

L.A. has its strengths and weaknesses

Living in LA is not perfect

But we outweigh the good with the bad, trying to bring change

LA is our home.                                                            Layla

There’s light, there’s dark, there’s NO in between

Some dirty some clean all the talent to be seen

The music the art all really really neat

L.A. is the city to change everything.                             Kiarra B.

The chaos rises underneath, like words

Garden in the desert, our task to tend.

Our face imprinted with the drying leaves,

Souls unknowingly pulled in by the wind

The golden hills are built on ancient pain

Yet the lights are dancing in the city’s veins                                            Ariel

L.A. the city of angels and stars

Where people love to visit even if they’re near or far

Although it’s not like the movies, everyone wants to see Hollywood Boulevard

Where you might see someone asking for tips while playing guitar.                      Nancy

L. A. is loud

Sirens, yelling, cars, music

L.A. is beautiful

Art, views, beaches, people

L.A. is home                                                                 Briana

No matter where you go in LA

There’s always noise from the streets to the mountains

To the sand between your toes.                                       Beatrice

A concrete jungle with mixed cultures,

From sunny, boiling summer days

To it’ gloomy, foggy winter afternoons,

A city known for its “perfect” weather

A city with mixed views.                                                           Joseph

The freeway makes me sick

But if I turn my head, I see those

Imposing mountains

And they wash me in a calm that reminds me:

I live in a Holy paradise

Then I look back to the car in front of

Me, and I’m in a hell-hole

But it’s heaven

I’m in Heaven

I’m in L.A.                               Maggie

Is L.A. home of the rich and famous

Or home of the poor?

Where you can see city lights and smog and no sight of a star.

I’ve heard about some history but I need to learn more                Samantha

Everything comes from so far away

As they all clash and pit or try to coexist

And waste away, wanting to be painted over

While idly observing each other

From ever-widening exhaustive lengths

Through hazy heat mirages

They see their future transposed

Over their reflection

From a million light years past.                          Carlos

My rancidly sweet L.A.

Rotten death and all

I can’t get enough

No matter how you treat me

You’re always there, and I’ll always be you.       Daniel G.

LA is a beautiful city,

But sometimes it isn’t.

You take risks everywhere you go,

Risks that can change your life,

So always look over your shoulder,

Keep you and your loved ones safe,

Or it’ll be the last time you’ll see the polluted grey sky.                           Faith

Streets are the gateway to life in L.A.

Connected by four or more lanes.

A grandfather holding his granddaughter’s hand walked across Whittier Boulevard

I wonder what my grandfather is doing right now.

My inner thoughts driving in L.A.                                              Victor

What seems to be

“The City of Angels”

Unbelievably, it’s not what it’s meant to be

L.A. revolves around love and hate

Hating the diversity but loving the talks

Hollywood where one meets the stars

But not the “stars” they want to see

To a small community with lots of people

Unbelievably, where one feels most safe in loving, where one grows up in

But again, hating where it’s diverse, where it becomes a bigger hatred.                             Roselin

Relationships are the structure for a community, and L.A. has that

From gangs to street vendors to neighborhoods

LA is one big community.                                              Cris

L. A. is the dreamers, culture, art, landmark and the community

The dreamers mark the landmark

The culture brings the community

The art makes L.A. speak without motion.                                  Johnny

Coyotes forced out of their environment,

Forced into neighborhoods and eating pets to survive

Stop building houses L.A.

Someone was there before you.                          Jessica

My rancidly sweet L.A.

Rotten teeth and all

I can’t get enough

No matter how you treat me

You’re always there, and I’ll always be you.       Daniel G.

The City of Angels with broken wings

Can’t fly but we stay high off of our dreams

To obtain or sustain?
The life we want or the life we have?

Why not both?

Because you’ll fight tooth and nail

With bruises and scars

Will you get even far?

Do it because there’s no guarantee of tomorrow

Broken Wings yet we still fly towards the stars.                          Nick

Los Angeles, the City of Angeles

L.A. where the traffic is as bad as the rent

L.A. the place where people become stars or insufferable influencers.

L.A. the city that has the most diverse population.

L.A. the city that has the highest source of income.

L.A. the city that has the highest amount of opportunities.                       Andy

L.A.’s beautiful views, places that your eyes can see

L.A. for dreams come true

L.A. is not what you expect

L.A. gangs on the streets

L.A. murderers, victims, Black Dahlia

L.A. we have the Dodgers

L.A. we have the art.                                         Natalia

The city of violence

The city without guidance

The city with people that don’t respect rules

The city that everybody thinks is so cool

The City of Los Angeles                                    Kiara F.

In the heart of LA, where dreams come alive

The Dodgers play, making the city thrive

With every pitch and every swing

Fans cheer and their voices sing.            Daniel D.

We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto

This is L.A.

Our abode.

We all have our blood and tears decorate pockets

I know I speak for me but words echo from many.

Even with violence, love can truly live within let

Toto, I am afraid, but I won’t give up yet

Though homes are not for all, we give our hearts

I am sorry, Toto, you easily mope

For there is despair today; there is a future for hope.                    Francis