2009 Poetry Ages 14-17

Winner!

2009-08-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T08:05:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

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

Family Secrets

2009-08-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

A girl on her bathroom floor, wondering if this is the door
A boy staring at a knife, will this be the end of his strife?
A child wishing with his heart, if this can be a new start
A woman sitting on a chair, wondering if he would care
A man hiding in a lie, while she puts on his tie
A family with a wall put up, break it down and fill their cup.

-By Chantal Mihailovic
Age 14

Within

2009-08-03T07:59:00.002-07:00

My heart,
Composed of fragile glass,
Mirroring reflections.
Do you see yours?

Absorbing-
Every ounce of wisdom
Bestowed upon my youth
Rejecting-
All the fear and pain
Though wounded still
Deep down….
Accepting-
A loss, my dearest love;
Eldest queen,
Metamorphed into an angel
Embracing-
Each new friendship
As a tree would welcome
Rain

How vague!
This stain glass window,
Of alluring intricacies,
Embedded firmly,
Unto rib cage walls

Yet always open,
To permit,
Life lessons and
Infinite memories
I cannot forget.
Snapping keepsakes of passersby,
Some of dark,
More of light,
Trusting always,
Holding tight,
this memoir of reflections….

-By Gabrielle Holt
Age 14

Scream!

2009-08-03T07:59:00.001-07:00

My dreams can talk,
They talk to me,
About a life that couldn’t be,
Explanations,
Oh! How they flee…
But truth lies behind it all.

I wander here, I wander there,
Left, now right,
in aimless flight,
From something all real.

Perspiration, drench my brow,
Fear catching in my throat,
By the outline of a figure,
In the corner of my mind, my soul, my eye…
That Eye!!
Pierced with brutal fate.
Questions yes, but answers no,
Curiosity warps my brain.
Insanity,
Calamity,
My world is bleeding rain.

This heart, it pounds,
By force, cast out,
And thrown into
Abyss.
I pray it stop,
Thou, cease it not,
‘Stead strikes with little mercy.

Lost forever,
No doubt.
No doubt…
But if you can,
Please yield your hand,
And provide me with directions.

Don’t contemplate
Nor hesitate,
to scream my love,
Scream for me!
Seduce and coax thunder to sing.
Cry a puddle, sob a stream,
Perhaps for nothing,
But, oh! That dream,
That talks to me,
About a life, that fragile life,
The one that couldn’t be.

-By Gabrielle Holt
Age 14

EVE OF NAIF

2009-08-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

One small child, but five years young,
On a stool, curled up tight,
in silence, sucks her thumb.
The aroma of sweet ginger men,
Stockings hung on high,
Flickers of a slender candle, linger in her eye.
Tick tock, TICK TOCK!!
The little hand meets twelve,
Steady shallow breath,
abruptly ceased and held.
Pitter patter,
Tip toe tip,
A shadow fills the hall,
The little girl, her heart it pounds,
RATTLES!!
rib cage walls.
‘Neath the footfalls of a silhouette,
The floorboards crying out,
A figure, dark with mystery, reveals one,
Tall and stout.
peach stained curve, imprinted on the face of one small soul,
Ascending up in height,
Climbing higher, high and bold,
Towards the long awaited sight.
But something here is wrong,
This isn’t who she ever thought would be,
Dropping off her wishes,
On a frigid Christmas Eve
Space and time,
They pause,
Searching, searching,
Panicked,
For the REAL, Mr. Claus.
‘Round the globe, the brightest stars
Seek aimlessly for truth,
As a frown, it creeps and dawns,
Showing not a solemn tooth
The twinkles on the tree of pine,
Glisten on her tears,
As mother dearest tucks the gifts,
Same as every year
Quick!
she nibbles goodies,
Placed with love above the hearth,
She tidies up her deed,
Making sure to leave one tart
Tip toe tip,
Her steps retraced,
Unknowingly her child disgraced,
As mournful streams,
Of salt they taste,
Dampen youth of toddling age.
Shuffling to the closet,
She slowly picks a broom,
To sweep up bits of shattered heart,
all to soon; torn apart.
Then pitter pat,
Trudging back,
Her spirit floods the hall.

-By Gabrielle Holt
Age 14

Ruinous and Destruction

2009-07-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

Ruins in England
Unstoppable destruction
In Iraq
Nasty plagues
On and through the time line
Until we
Stop and live in peace
Alas what will it take
Nuclear war and
Death of billions
Destructive weapons or
Entirely fatal viruses
Surrender hate and violence now
To save the future or
Reap the world of a future
Unite we must stand and stop or we will kill our
Children and their children
Till we do that and live
In a peaceful world
Our children will live in a world of
Never ending pain and fear

-By Chris Schall
Age 15

Storm

2009-07-28T11:30:00.001-07:00

I see the rain slide down the pane
Slow
Unrushed
Then I hear the thunderclap
Loud
And it scares me
Soon I see the lightening in the sky
Beautiful
Powerful
Dangerous
And I wish for a second
I was the storm
That I was unrushed, slow
So loud it was scary
Unbelievably beautiful
Magnificently powerful
And deadly dangerous
But for now I’m a simple drop
Among billions of others
Doing hardly nothing
But making all the difference

- By Taylor Carter
Age 14

Fairytale Ending

2009-07-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

If it’s a dream
I’m not waking up
And if its in my head
I’m not coming out
Its seems to good to be true
Like a fairytale with no end
I wish it were real
That you could love me
But if it’s a fairytale
It wont last forever
Ill turn into Cinderella
Ill leave at midnight
The façades up
I’m not who I seem to be
Ill leave a token of our night
A necklace,
Maybe a shoe
Perhaps well meet again
Most likely not
I’m turning into Cinderella
And my fairytale must have an end

-By Taylor Carter
Age 14

Untitled

2009-07-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Fingers cross
Lets hope for the best
We’ll work it all out
Our fingers cross
Eyes lock
See no one but each other
Nothing matters
Look at me
Look at you
Eyes lock and never look away
Lips meet like never before
Time is frozen
It’s a whole new sensation
Our lips touch and everything changes
Hearts beat
Can you hear it?
Its louder than before
Can you feel it?
Its pounding in my chest
Making a wondrous song
Hearts beat
Fingers cross
Eyes lock
Lips meet
Love begins

- By Taylor Carter
Age 14

Windows

2009-07-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

Doors tightly sealed,
Locked with black palisades,
Thrown open for a moment,
To find a mirror of themselves
Two souls see each other,
Unhidden, uncovered, piercing in their intensity.
Blue summer waters-
Stormy waves of muted blue
Held together for a moment,
In an endless ocean
Seeming like eternity,
Two souls
So much unspoken,
So much shared,
Then doors clang shut.
Black spikes crossed,
Spell is broken,
Two souls hidden once more,
Behind the veil;
The curtains,
Over the windows to the soul

- By Tasha Greenwood
Age 16

Silver Beads

2009-07-28T11:25:00.001-07:00

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.

-By Tasha Greenwood
Age 16

Free

2009-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Once lost, now found,
Once burdened with sin, now forgiven,
Once sentenced to death,now granted eternal life
Once full of debt, now free from all wages.
Jesus took away my sins,
and now i can truly say I'm free.

- By Viktoriya D
Age 17

It Seemed

2009-07-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

It seemed her life was falling into place,
She had it all, family, faith, dreams,
And a love she thought they both shared.
It seemed he was the one,The one she waited for all her life,
The one she prayed for, dreamed of
The one God would unite her life with,
To erase all past heartaches and pain.
It seemed there were no worries,
No more sorrows or tears,
God had answered our prayers,
Answered the confusion and mysteries of love.
It seemed the hardships were over,
When really they had just begun.
It seemed they were the perfect couple,
So strong, romantic, so full of love,
Through all his troubles, she was there,
She stood beside him through it all.
It seemed they had a future together,
So much to live for, so much to do,
It seemed they cherished each other more than life itself.
And as quickly as everything came together, everything fell apart.
It seemed he was just drifting,
He needed space he said,
But as time wore on, his motives were clear,
He wanted to put an end to it all.
It seemed he was never home,
Could never answer her phone calls,
It seemed she was forgotten.
It seemed she took it easy,
Packed up the memories, dreams and left,
Moved to the end of what had seemed like the beginning,
And with her she took dreams of a future with him,
And memories of a love that had seemed undying.
It seemed there was so much to live for,
Now the longing for life was gone.
He left her empty of dreams and of his love,
He left her with their love burning in only one heart

-By Viktoriya D.
Age 17

Moving On

2009-07-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

When I look into your dark eyes
I see promise, love, and lies
I have messed up feelings,
And many theories without ties.

One minute I love you,
The next minute I don’t
I’m tired of these little games;
You think I’ll keep on running back, but I won’t.

All those times I thought I loved you
And needed you most
You kept running away,
It felt as if you were on the opposite coast.

Sometimes I wonder If all your promises were fake
You did promise to love me,
But in the end, it was my heart you chose to break.

You took away so much,
You left me empty inside
Now I’ve decided I’m moving on,
And I’m moving on with pride.
Now all the hurt is gone,
You’re history to me.I
feel no dread,
I feel no doubt,
I feel like I have been set free.

-By Viktoriya D.
Age 17

Make Love

2009-07-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Make love
not war
is like giving money
to the poor.
The Blood soaked clothes
with lie our sons
as the man wonders
what have i done.
They say there trying
to stop the war by lieing
but they'll know when to stop
when there at there sons grave crying.
They stop the war
with bombs and guns
hopeing for victory
but those kill our sons.
The sit in there chair
looking pretty and nice
when in the end
they pay the price.
The real meaning
of all war
might as well be
blood tears death and gore.
Make love
not war
the man only screams
screams back for more.

-By Dylan Norris
Age 17

I Ask of You

2009-07-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

How do you know
When the devil on your shoulder is you?
He leaves footprints on your blades and
Scars stretching far across the canvas that is your body.
He blocks your throat when you want to scream “No”
And welcomes the unwanted with arms outstretched.
He paints sins on your hands and lies on your lips
Leaving space for nothing else.
Innocence is undrawn on this hollow soul
That has become your main enemy.
You slice the rotted and rip the spoiled
Out of you and into the past
And only then do you know you are free.

-By Michelle D.
Age 15

A Sensible Oxymoron

2009-07-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

The eyes of the sea open onto my dream
The waters flooding Earth
And homes and children giving birth
Hate rising from the heat
Of the ice it ant compete
With the dying dead rising from their death
Such easily caught breath
Rage filling the galaxy’s capacity
Transforming the clear air into opacity
Anger cleansing the good
With scars and sins and all is misunderstood
But the sea continues to clearly see
As its eyes open onto my dream.

-By Michelle D.
Age 15

Work of Art

2009-07-23T10:31:00.001-07:00

I could carve a story in your heart
A flawless perfect story you won’t part
With ink unseen, with needles dull
An ideal idyllic story, piece of art.
Ink and needle in your open wound
Could redefine you, make you finely tuned
You did not know, but thought you knew
When you craft, inspire, on you the light is strewn.
With stories varied drawn into your world
Observe the beauty that is around you curled
So tightly wrapped, yet spreading far
See the love that through your days is wholly swirled.

-By Michelle D.
Age 15

Now a days

2009-07-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

So do you believe in fairytale endings where the princess
runs off to the castle with the prince and they get married
and your parents get along so well that they plan the whole
thing and they live happily ever after well there might of been
a time a time where it went somewhat like that but lets be
realistic life isnt anything near that well maybe if you had a
billion dollars it's not love at first sight well maybe it's love at
first site with their car or money now a days theres more
people getting divorced then married how did that happen?
theres more happily never afters then happily ever afters
why does it have to be like that and im pretty darn sure that
we dont all live in gorgeous castles most of us live in
apartments or a pretty decent house and our princes arent
as handsome as in the movies or the books and im pretty
sure they all cant ride a horse without tumbling over wearing
big shiny armor to protect you from the beasty dragon
instead they wear suits and work in an office or work at
home all day like in movies when the prince swipes out his
sword and does all this tricks and then finally defeats the
dragon our princes can swipe out there cellphones and
make dinner reservations so as you see now a days it very
different but you can always dream up your own fairytale
and if you work hard enough on it and believe in it it might
even come true so just have faith and start dreaming

By Valeria Jimenez
Age 14

Whisper it back

2009-07-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Whispering melodies in your ear will you sing them
back with the strength i have provided you with the
wisdom I have taught you with the beautiful power thats
within you please whisper it back and embrace
the love around you the music notes surrounding for i
have died for your wrongs to give you peace and
serenity hoping the melody will reach you oh please
won/t you whisper it back instead you walk to where i
might not see are you trying to decieve me?you reach
out to me in the heavens looking to catch the melody
the peace for just a minute but just to hold it not be in
it oh please stay with me and won't you whisper it
back.

By Valeria Jimenez
Age 14

Untouchable and Invisible

2009-07-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Untouchable and Invisible

I can take life with sorrow

I can take it with pain

I don't know about tomorrow

but I hope it doesn't come in vain

I should get out and let go

but I already left love and said so

Its not like I did it in malice

I did it like this...

You are untouchable

and I am invisible

I couldn't interfere

because I gave in to fear

That was my choice

Then I lost my voice

I see you fade away

I felt like someone died today

I went through the motions

I questioned my devotion

I searched through myself

and saw I needed to put this on a shelf

I can't get you back

though that sounds black

I have no regrets

You are untouchable

and I am invisible

I couldn't interfere

because I gave in to fear

That was my choice

Then I lost my voice

I see you fade away

I felt like someone died today

I still have the rest of my life

but I have no time to spend it in strife

I thought I needed you

but now I'm leaving you

Though I hold no grudge

I'm sure you won't budge

If you have fun with her

of that I am unsure

You are now invisible

and I am untouchable

How is it on the other side?

Are you still tied?

If you're not

you lost the spot.

Don't come around here

I'll make you tremble with fear

-By Melissa Campbell
Age 16

My Love Will Abide

2009-07-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

My Love Will Abide

Verse 1

I could have tried harder

but I wouldn't have gotten any farther

I didn't have to do the math

because love isn't drawn on a map

I don't need to look at you through a mask

I can live with your photograph

Chorus

I never had a chance

I should have seen that after first glance

you are so perfect

and I just fall flat

I saw she was right there by your side

Though that made me run and hide

my love will abide

Verse 2

I see you smile with her

and it leaves me to burn

I could step up and break her up

but I know it's not enough

I could step in and stop this

but I'd rather fade away in the mist

Chorus

I never had a chance

I should have seen that after first glance

you are so perfect

and I just fall flat

I saw she was right there by your side

Though that made me run and hide

my love will abide

Bridge

You know I cried

I would have lied

and I could have died for you

you'll never see

the good in me

or what we could be

Chorus (revised)

I could ask you to dance

but I'd rather not take that chance

she's probably better

that's why you love her

She's right there by your side

Though that makes me run and hide

my love will abide

Verse 3

I hope she makes you happy

though you still have the key

I'll let you go

and wallow in my woes

-By Melissa Campbell

Age 16

As I Recall

2009-07-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Verse 1

Some say love's a gift

But it's only left me adrift

I found myself lost

And saw it had a cost

I feel like a doormat

I wish I could take it back

Chorus

As I recall

You made me fall

I wish I caught myself

I feel I've lost myself

As I recall

You dropped the ball

I wish I let it fall

And never saw it at all

Verse 2

I'm in a depressing void

That's what I try to avoid

I do everything to forget

And cut out everything that is left

I wish I could believe

That it's okay to live with my heart on my sleeve

Chorus

As I recall

You made me fall

I wish I caught myself

I feel I've lost myself

As I recall

You dropped the ball

I wish I let it fall

And never saw it at all

Chorus

As I recall

You made me fall

I wish I caught myself

I feel I've lost myself

As I recall

You dropped the ball

I wish I let it fall

And never saw it at all

Verse 3

The worst part

Is living with a broken heart

I'm still on the ground

And there's nothing I've found

I wish I never fell

There's nothing more to tell

-By Melissa Campbell

Age 16

Psychics Under The Stars

2009-06-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

With a single palm

You can see

My past, present, future

My full destiny

You take a deep breath

And slowly sigh

Then glance at me

With your crystal clear

Deep blue eyes

Your colrfully gemmed necklace shines

Your dark green jade earrings glow

You pick up a few cards

Old-fashioned tarot

You don't peek at the cards

Your eyes still fixed on mine

I get a scared feeling inside

Wonder if I should go

But I can't lift my body

I feel you searching for my soul

What do you see quiet psychic

A life 'til old age?

With a happy family engaged?

What do you hear peaceful psychic

A soon dreadful death?

A hard crazy life?

Shall I dare ask what you know

Or wait 'til you tell

Do you read anything yet

Does it all ring a bell

You glare at the cards

Set them all out

It makes me so curious

As to what you're thinking about

Are you my friend dear psychic

Can I believe what you say

Is this really my future

You will tell me today

Or are you just a scam

A liar

A hoax

As much as I wish this untrue

I won't raise my hopes

You rub your palms together

Look me in my eyes

Whisper something low

With a voice so peaceful

Yet so slow

I turn away

Walk out of your little blue tent

Take one last look

Never to return again

I'll never know who you are

Mysterious psychics under the stars

-By Jamie Earhart

Age 14

How Much More

2009-06-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

As I ride my bike along the sidewalk

I decide it is time for a little break.

After I cross the small bridge I take a right

And slowly ride down the steep drop

Away from the road.

My breaks squeal as I try not to

Go down too fast, but fast enough

For a small thrill.

I go towards the left

Looking for the perfect spot

To lay in the grass

Where I am0Anot noticeable

To the cars passing above.

There I lay,

Soaking up the sun and

Looking at the small pond,

Thinking how beautiful this life is,

And how much more beautiful

It could be.

-By Rayna Lounsbury

Age 17

The Followers

2009-06-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

There will be a star in the sky

On that night a baby shall be born

We are crazy

We are insane

Being felicitous

Is constantly our demeanor.

Our shouts and cheers, when

We praise together

Are grateful and eloquent

As children who run with

Not a care in the world

In field=2 0of flowers

Forms with meaning, shapes without

darkness,

Unstopping love, caring without selfishness;

Those who have seen

With open heart, to life’s other

Wonders

Remember us--as always--not as wandering

Withering people, but only

As full of life

The followers of Christ.

-By Rayna Lounsbury

Age 17

Lost Love, New Found Peace

2009-06-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

I stand here staring into the mist

Wishing for flowers in my fist

And I'm not quite knowing

Where my life is going.

I wish that I could truly find

Something secret to confide

I wish that he could truly see

What he truly means to me.

I wish that I could really fly

And reach so high above the sky

And I'm not quite knowing

Where my life is going-

But that is the best feeling in the world.

-By Fiorella Nicoloso

Age 14.5

The Life Not Yet Lived

2009-06-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

Before long I shall have lived

A life I would have never dreamed.

The cold burns my feet,

The sun burns my head.

I find no shelter

From the harshness of this world.

Tranquility flies away,

Like a dove in the open morning sky.

Peacefulness does not exist here,

But in the new life.

Dreaming is inadequate,

Shelter is but sumptuousness.

I catch the dove gently in my hands;

Nevertheless, nothing lasts forever.

-By Fiorella Nicoloso

Age 14 1/2

Unknown Emotion

2009-06-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

Darkness burns deep; burns the edge of my soul.

I wait, I watch, I cry; nobody speaks.

The crowd swirls around me; I do not stir.

The world spins faster; nobody is there to notice.

For all are at the saddest of gatherings; all are incapacitated with despair.

I light a candle to shun the darkness; the flame engulfs me.

I do not cry; I do not make a child-like plea.

For I have grown accustomed to this; I have known this grief before.

I can face this head-on;unlike the rest of the world.

I stand all alone; surrounded by my past life.

A meadow is before me;I shine in the fire.

For everything happens for a reason; including this thrashing of emotion

-By Fiorella Nicoloso

Age 14.5

MAny would say

2009-06-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Many would say.
Many would say.
That they can control the world,
each and every day.

Many will think.
Many Will think.
They can sit on a boat,
and never sink.

Many believe.
Many believe.
That they can change the color,
of each and every leaf.

They do not know.
They do not know.
That there is one man,
who does as so.

I can only say.
I can only say.
I am the one,
who feels this way.

Why cant they see.
Why cant they see.
She is the one,
that loves me.

She loves me so.
She loves me so.
She is the one,
who makes me glow.

I love her too.
I love her too.
That beautiful girl,
with eyes of blue.

-by Dylan Norris

Age 17

Deep and murky waters

2009-06-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dancing to no music,
Shouting quietly,
Listening to silence ,
Singing to no melody ,
Dancing to no rhythm,
Drumming with no beat,
Acting with no direction,
Screaming without reason,
Beauty with no faith,
Cleaning with filth,
Smooth abrasiveness ,
Living with no life.

Almost like loving........
loving with no emotion.

-By Dylan Norris

Age 17

Kiss of Death

2009-06-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Just come kill me now

Kill me in my sleep

Just make it fast

Make the stab deep.

Our time is gone

It's time to leave

From you the kiss of death

Is what I shall receive.

The pain I feel

Is not pretend

The ache is so bad

It cannot mend.

You sneak in

While I sleep

Into my head

Unconsciousness only so deep.

As you stab my chest

My path has been set

And you watch me dying

Having no regrets.

And as you're walking away

It sets up the scene

Then I wake up

With a blood curdling scream.

-By Caitlin Waldrop

Age 14

Eyes

2009-06-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Her eyes are a reflection

Of what is her past

They are pictures

Of stone and glass.

She's been hurt

Hurt real bad

When you look at her

She seems so sad.

Her eyes are black

Black as coal

Staring at you

Making you cold.

When you look at someone

Their eyes tell it all

In the past

If they have one at all.

In her past

Her heart had been torn

When her boyfriend

Went off to war.

A bomb went off

On a rooftop one day

When soldiers were up there

Happy and gay.

They were going home tonight

And he though this was the end

Tonight he was going home

Back to his girlfriend.

The bomb went off

He threw himself over his friend

And then

That was the soldier's end.

The news got to the girl

She wept and wept

And then by grief

She was over swept.

As I said before

Her eyes told her past

When you look at them

They are pictures of stone and glass.

-By Caitlin Waldrop

Age 14

Proud

2009-06-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

I am up here on this stage

Taking my final bow

And I am silently searching

For your face in the crowd.

I know I've got everybody fooled

As I hold my bouquet of roses

With that fake little smile

Just another one of those poses.

But no one knows

What's really going on

How with every one of my shows

I've had to be strong.

Because after every single show

When I'm searching for you in the crowd

The only thing I wanna know

Is that I've made you proud.

-By Caitlin Waldrop

Age 14

Oh Thee, Let Me Die

2009-06-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

My eyes disengage from this universe
As I inhale the last breathe of the air
Oh thee, my mind wonders as I disperse,
And let me die without any despair.

Oh thee, gently lull me into your song,
And let me fall into forever sleep
And I’ll close my eyes to where I belong
And let me drop into a deep down steep.

As I take my last step of this mankind
I learn to value my relationship,
I learn to trust and believe in my mind,
And I’ll keep walking without any slip.

Time steals me away from reality,
But gives me some hopes for fatality.

-By Vi Mai

Age 14

The Fight of the Night

2009-06-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Once, the Ghint sitting on the minst,
And chippering the old Linte;
All the air wabbled down
As the Ghout fighting with the Sowthes.
“Beware you two!”
The Jabbuzy singing, gambeling around the waves
“The storm will come and the light will hide
As the Old Foe might arise.”
The Ghint hasted the blade
At the sorpel, he will may
All thou who might have won
As the shadow hatched the trees.
The lantern sunk the flame
Like a hitch in a hatch
“The Old Foe coming back
As we might have to do that.”
The Linte snickered,
And all the minst went dead;
“Beware you two,
The silent is the death.”
The Ghint tuggling with the woods
With the mansoner in his name
Like a mimsty in the minst
As he clided like a flame.
Brilling with the light
As the Linte have to fight
With the hathe of the doubt
But thou no way to out.
The Ghint vained the trees
Like a snitch in a snatch.
“Thou my old friend
The sorpel is here
As the blade will vain
And you might be near.”
“Slithy the touve”
And steamish little fool;
You have no idea
Who you fighting to.”
“Oh thou my friend,” the Linte said
“The sorpel is here
With the vorpal in its arm
As you might have to come near.”
He haited his sword with the Ghint
“Long time my friend, uhhh…”
The Linte slained his head
With the sword of dead.
The flame of the lantern twiggeling up
As the minst wabbled through the fair;
Once, the Ghint sitting on the minst
And chippering the old Linte.

-By vinh mai

Age 14

Prison

2009-06-30T13:29:00.002-07:00

Through trouble and hardship
Sickness and pain
No complaint was uttered from her mouth
The girl’s silence was in vain

The girl endured the knife
The girl endured her sentence
Although put through strife
She did her time in silence

Blocked out from the world
Sister free to roam
As the girl sat in her prison
She neither made a complaint nor groan

She did the work
As her sister watched
Reporting every mistake with a smirk
More time for the girl

Finally “free”
Watched carefully
Back in prison
No hope for escape

-By Kaisha Butz

Age 15

A Poem to be Whispered

2009-06-30T13:29:00.001-07:00

Trapped in a mystical cave
Scared by the darkness around
A little kitty sits in a pool of water
Waiting for the doors to open
So he can get out

-By Kaisha Butz

Age 15

My Bestie

2009-06-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

My best friend Angela is amazing and kind
A friend like you is hard to find,

Friends for life is what we are
Angela, you’re my shining star

You’re so close all the time but yet so far away;
I just wish that you could stay

I’m so blessed to have a friend like you
Everyone needs a best friend too

-By Kaisha Butz

Age 15