Winner!

The poem with the most votes is:

Silver Beads
by Tasha Greenwood

Time is raining down in silver droplets,
Beads of mercury-
Dripping. . .
Pearlescent orbs that swell
and slip like oily tears
To splash upon the worlds,
And scatter in a thousand pieces-
That draw together,
Each another drop,
Another dimension,
That rolls onward ceaselessly…
From the warm dark of oblivion,
A spark travels toward the overwhelming light
A breath so sharp,
It cracks the silence;
Like a delicate china cup,
That smashed to the floor
So only a single rose
Lay unscathed…
Green garden,
Crisp scent of rain,
Approaching in the sky,
Cut grass suspended in the air -
Gossamer threads of spider web,
Blown away with dandelion fluff -
Growing in steel bucket,
Upturned…
Fragile paper swords,
Brush hairline cracks
In the glass heart -
Pulsing crimson ribbons
Beating, singing, deep down…
Smudged fingerprints on glass,
Turn lines into ripples,
Fading at the edges,
Like acid,
Slowly eating marble chips and stone…
Writhing smoke,
Ship sinks under clouds
That cover a murky bog,
Sighing whispers…
Transparent wings cast an inky shadow…
Silver beads roll across the floor.

Congratulations!

Time

Does time exist for those too omnipotent for mortal eyes?
Is it tangible, fallible, or even conscious of it's own existence?
Why, then, do the silky and lustful tendrils of time
Even now pull at the half-forgotten recesses of my heart and mind?

Does time feel?
Is it aware of the suffering it inflicts on my soul in your presence?
Bending, stretching, and warping my being as time hasit's dark mischief?
has time stopped, or has it truly even started?

Much like a wild flower, our lives twist and tangle as we struggle for a greater purpose in this world.
And indeed much like a wild flower, our essence and rarity are only captured for a heart beat before fading into obscure and perverse nothing.

My realization is this:
you are time. you are my everything and nothing.
you are my life source and final breath.
And my only hope is that is in the space of eternity, you will hesitate only for the most fleeting of moments to gaze upon me and bask in the futile love I offer.

-By Micah Cole
Age 16

Someday

Every girl dreams
Of that special day
That walk down the isle
It seems so far away
When she was little
All you could say
Was how cute she was
On that one day
As she got older
She began to say
Can I hang with my friends
Later today
She started going to dances
And all you would say was
Be home by 11
Or you’re grounded the next day
The next thing you know
She’s grown up and gone
Off to college
For what seems so long
Then one day
You get a call
From your little girl
Who isn’t so small
She says met a nice guy
Just the other day
And you’re thinking
I don’t want to give her away
They fall in love
And you like him too
But you don’t know
What you should do
Then that day comes
Where dreams come true
For everyone
Yes, including you

-By Erika Chupp
Age 16

Once in a Lifetime

We all have those moments
Those fond memories
But once in a lifetime
Just happened for me
I had a moment
A decision to make
To spend part of my summer
Away for the break
Away out in Texas
Where the Hurricane hit
A 16-hour drive
And all we could do was sit
Yet those hours flew by
Like those fond memories
Yes once in a lifetime
Was about to happen for me
We arrived at the church
Where we would stay
And we unpacked our bags
And knew that this was no holiday
We worked and worked
All through the day
But had lots of fun
I bet you’re thinking, “No way!”
The days passed quickly
And before we knew
That once in a lifetime
Was almost through
We packed up our bags
And loaded into the van
And waved goodbye
To all those on the land
Once in a lifetime
Happened so fast
Oh how I wish
I could have made it last

-By Erika Chupp
Age 16

Footprints in the Sand

When we began
This journey by the water
You held me in your arms.
As I grew
I began to walk beside you
And make footprints in the sand.
Take my hand
And we’ll walk by the water
I know you’ll never leave my side.
Take my hand
As we walk by the water
And make those footprints in the sand.
The years passed by
And we’re here, where we are
I look back
And see those times
Where you carried me through the sand.
Take my hand
And we’ll walk by the water
I know you’ll never leave my side.
Take my hand
As we walk by the water
And make those footprints in the sand.
Our journey won’t have to end right here
Oh there’s still more
Places to go.
I want you
To come along with me
And make more footprints in the sand.

-By Erika Chupp
Age 16

Broken Perfect Crown

You said you loved me
And that we could be
You said our love would last
Our hearts would never cast
You gave me much affection
Soon it turned into rejection
The fire in your eyes died down
It was like you broke my perfect crown
I was lying,
To my heart
To keep from dying,
I need a new start
Tell me that you love me
I will walk away
We were never meant to be
Until this very day

-By Chantal Mihailovic
Age 14

My Life in Your Hands

My heart was full of fire
You hosed it down with water
You filled my heart with love
And put it back together
My eyes were full of anger
You looked past my eyes
You went deep inside
And discovered all the lies
Despite the lies
Of my horrid past
You gave me a clean start
That will forever last
Three words is all I need to say
To tell you how I feel
But those three words will may
Not describe my deal
You gave much more than just a change
You gave me my life

-By Chantal Mihailovic
Age 14