Inkwell Literary Magazine

Inkwell 2012 Literary Magazine of Cypress Springs High School

George Tarry

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Kirollos Edward

Table of Contents

6 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 20 21 22

A Question for Daddy – Anthony Braley Abandoned and Alone – Jahmiella Abbott Bang – Sjadon Britton Bloodshot Red – Kethan Kelley Breaking Barriers – Jachob Anthony Garza I Miss You, Dad – Chelsea Dodd Children – Daylon Syler If You Really Knew Me – Anonymous Friend or Foe – Sanderryo Hamilton Left Behind – Joel Lorres Favors of My Past Spread to My Future – Sylvia Wheeler Life – Daniella Gallegos Less Than a Man – Deairo Douglas My Destruction in April – Sjaddon Britton Listen – Ashley Abbs My Love for Her – Johnelle Barnett The Expression of the Precious Child – Taylor Jones Edwards The Fight – Decarrio Turner Losing Myself – Sanderryo Hamilton Walk with Me – Daniella Gallegos

24 25 25 26 27 28 29 30

Could’ve Been Me – Peyton Osuobeni A Dreary Day – Gina Holcomb Menace – Lyvia Alvarez Caged Phoenix – Ashley Abbs Bitter Memories – Lyvia Alvarez Change – Jasmine Jones Black Sins – Lyvia Alvarez Closed Doors – Decarrio Turner

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31 32 33 34 34 35 35 36 37 38 39 39 41 42 43 44 44 45 46 46

Childish – Lanaya Alfred Love – Ana Gallegos I Understand Anger – Desiree Bartholomew Free Men - Jeylen Arteaga Goodbye - Bianca Schumake Doors – Kadejah Gray Fantasy – Ana Gallegos Heaven - Kaitlyn Cowan I’m Inspired Girl – Kendrick Chisley It Only Takes a Hug – Ja’waun Prince The Perfect Guy – Kaitlyn Cowan Love is a Battlefield – Jasmine Jones Lies – Lexie Mayfield Life is a Puzzle – Morgan Carlson Light Skinned – Zakery Wright 8 Bit Romance – Citlalin Ossio Love is Not to Be – Keithan Kelly My Life in Sudan – Anonymous My Little Dancer – Terrance Jackson One Word – Zakery Wright

47 48 48 49 49 50 51 51 52 53 54 55 55 56 57 58 58 59 60

Passion – Karla Arredondo Mental Scars – Jesse Rodriguez Race – Ana Gallegos Release Me – Ashlee McDaniel RIP by Your Name – Decarrio Turner Roses and Flowers – Daniella Gallegos Scratches and Bruises – Tia Harris Sea of Regret – Ariana Donnell Shades – Cyrus Gray Shadows – Devon Burgard Such a Woman – Anonymous Why – Ja’waun Prince Scratches on My Face – Kindla Zeno The Cure – Mario Castillo The Effects – Jasmine Jones The Empty Bowl – Jahmiella Abbott The Other Victim – Katy Harlan The War – Cyrus Gray The Child Who Says Thank You – Lyvia Alvarez

62 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 76 76 76 77

An Interesting Question? – Timothy Szafran Athletic and Smart – Sjadon Britton About that Life – Taylor Jones Edwards Again – Sanderryo Hamilton Confusing Dream - Deairo Douglas At Night – Jada Walker Independence – Brandon Harrison Bittersweet – Ledis Santos I’m Just Saying – Briana Heard Two Brown Eyes – Alexandra Acuna Don’t Underestimate It – Kirillos Nashed Red – Chelsea Dodd Creativity – Peyton Osuobeni Decarrio’s Lyric – Decarrio Turner Exciting Easter – Rechanne Waddell Good to See You Again – Jarad Davis Imagination – Joey Olson Life’s Author – Luisa Martinez One Sky – Anthony Escalante Life – Jenifer Irantet Me – Victoria N. Thomas

78 78 79 79 80 82 83 83 84 86 86 87 87 88 89 90 90 91 92 93 94 94

My Life – Travis Watson The Eyes of a Dropout – Kaitlyn Cowan Roaring Sea – Kenny Bufford Dance – Kayla Sainer Lacrimae Rerum – Mitch Thomas Wasted Talent – Abernequa Walker The Fear of Being Me – Citlalin Ossio Time – Jahmiella Abbott Rosestilskin – Lyvia Alvarez The Mask – Zakery Wright Where is That Little Girl Now? – Ashley Abbs The Window – Catherine Hayes This is Me – Johnelle Barnett Treasures of the Heart – Julia Kingwell Vacation from Myself – Cyrus Gray Wasted – Zakery Wright You – Ana Gallegos Welcome Back – Cyrus Gray Wonder Circus – Citlalin Ossio Wonderful – Cyrus Gray Ecstacy of a Lie – Michelle Henderson If Heaven Was a Mile Away - Ruqayya Gibson

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Katherine Cantu

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A Question for Daddy Anthony Braley

‘Daddy, is God really real?’ asks Ariel, my five year old daughter from time to time.

Santa is easy, he gives great gifts, frequents the mall, his image is everywhere. Visiting every child’s house in the world in one night and flying around in a sleigh are hard to swallow for the average adult, but for Ariel, as long as the cookies are gone and the requested present is there on Christmas morning – no further explanation is necessary.

Santa is easy.

God is hard. He created everything, sees everything, knows everything. He wasn’t born and can’t die. He’s everywhere, ‘but I can’t see Him! I want to see Him!’ she pleads.

The toothfairy? Hasn’t lost a tooth yet – but seems highly skeptical. Takes your tooth, gives you money, end of story. ‘Why does she want my teeth anyway?’

I tried to have some fun with it one day, told her something about a long, flowing, sparkly gown made only of children’s teeth. I added on that to keep her dress clean and glowing, nice little girls should carefully brush their own teeth every night. I felt a little bad about using an obvious fabrication to get a desired result, but it worked – at least for awhile.

The Easter bunny? Well that’s just silly – not even worth discussing…

When you’ve answered the question a thousand times with your own mind and tongue, it seems so naive, so childish and so …..easy. But to her it’s not easy, much less silly – in fact, it seems to hold all the importance of the world. It’s as if the answer were to determine the way she sees everything else on this earth – even me, her father.

I want to provide that perfect answer, that assurance which I know she’s looking for, and so I try. But… ..a month later she asks again. And so I’ll try and try again, but the truth is that I’ll never be able to completely answer that question for her. Maybe this should frustrate or sadden me, but it doesn’t.

I don’t know when it was for me. I know I didn’t ask my father – at least not in so many words, but I saw His image – and it too was everywhere. Maybe for Ariel it’ll take a dawn that paints the sky with a thousand different colors – each clearly present yet indistinguishable from the others, or a meditative gaze from a mountain-peak onto a valley covered with countless 6

pines in seemingly perfect calm inspite of their constant readiness to provide refuge, fuel, a table, a lethal weapon, a place for words great and small to rest, or an uncontrollable blaze. Perhaps one day she’ll observe the ocean’s tides, the contour of it’s shore, or the artifice of the internal design of a common seashell and note how these patterns are expressed with mathematic precision, offering the illusion of randomness to the unkeen eye.

Or maybe she’ll have to observe an eighteen month old boy (such as my son) as he constructs a tower made of plastic blocks with the same determination that a highly skilled engineer would employ to design a one hundred story skyscraper. Or see that same eighteen month old boy walk over and gently hug his older sister when she starts to cry. Or see one stranger care for another at great personal cost, for no measureable gain whatsoever, when so many others would have been content to let him die, or witness a mother and father forgive the man who brutally stole their only child’s innocence and life.

Surely she’ll someday ask why so many suffer abuse, hunger, thirst and misery in a world of plenty and how the same drink that sustains life can destroy countless homes and kill hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of minutes. And she’ll be confounded by why so many willfully enslave, prostitute, exploit, degrade, and manipulate others in order to gain or maintain wealth, power, or pleasure. Perhaps she’ll wonder what kind of God would allow such ugliness to exist for so long.

Is this God ‘really real’?

Then she’ll have her own child – I hope. And she’ll feel it develop in her womb: excitement, big dreams, anxiety, mood-swings, discomfort, nausea, pain, a name, impatience, and finally that day. It’ll be messy for awhile, but then she’ll hold in her hands a perfect creation. Tiny little hands, toes, eyelashes, and lips closed so peacefully, her little chest rising and falling with each precious breath of life. And her daughter will grasp her finger with the strength of an army, grow, smile for the first time, grow, roll over for the first time, grow more, laugh for the first time, grow, crawl, walk, invent her own language and command her world with it, grow some more, all the time trusting in her to fulfill her every need. Watching her daughter discover the world around her and marvel at the simplest encounters, she too will re-discover profound beauty and complexity in what she had long since dismissed as mundane

and uninteresting. And she’ll discover that in this little person there is a unique being, unlike any other that has ever been and or that will ever be, an infinitely powerful mind, an immaterial soul, and the unlimited capacity to create, destroy, love, hate, conform or transform.

And she’ll always want to guide that small child even though she’ll acknowledge that, ultimately, her little one is free in this life to choose, to believe, to act, to speak, to think, to question. And she’ll realize that this very freedom of thought and action allows her daughter and all of humanity to decipher the truth, and to act for good or to act for evil – and that such freedom in

Kirollos Edward

such an intricately and artfully designed being and universe cannot occur by sheer chance, but by the will of a maker. And if it hasn’t happened yet, she’ll finally answer that question that eluded her as a child, when her own daughter looks up to her with breathlessness and loaded eyes and asks with all the weight of the world, “Mommy, is God really real?”

PS – And she’ll feel neither frustrated nor sad, because she’ll know….

Anthony Braley

-for Ariel

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Abandoned and Alone Jahmiella Abbott

she got three mouths to feed. while she was thinking off the dome she struggles with trying to keep her composure in front of her kids. abandon, she got three mouths to feed. packed in a mini van our home is within the perimeter of a park and an are of five car seats. i remember at night when me and moms took turns keeping look out, making sure we didn’t get caught, I would fall asleep. i was so young. keeping the a/c on with little to no gas she kept us cool from the summers’ hot air. sometimesi would hear her at night crying to the Lord praying to see another day. alone, she got three mouths to feed. hearing our prayers she was blessed with a waitressing job over night thatpayed her enough to get us a room. and when we got hungry she’d come home in the morning with casadias and guacamole and fresh fruit ready to eat. despite the situation, laughter kept us close.

My mother, with three mouths to feed with the Lord on our shoulders, we made it out. i do take my moms for granted only becausei know she’s there for me. but as time goes on, i cant fathom the thought of losing her... three mouths to feed doesn’t consists of me being number three mamaill take the load because i know you tired. we made it through another day. i love you mama

Lyvia Alvarez

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Bang

Sjadon Britton Bang, Bang, Bang is all I hear standing on that front porch, 2 to the head and 1 to the chest. I’ll never forget that day, It went from arguments and you beating my mother because you gave our things away. Sold all my toys and clothes for drugs. To you I was just another life less soul, I meant nothing to you, You never showed me and my mother the love we needed, I felt so neglected, You pushed me away, disowned me. Its funny because you seen me and my mother in the store the day before and you acted as if you didn’t even know me, acted as if I was a complete stranger. You beat me, Took all of your anger that life brought to you out on me just so I can feel that emotional pain just as you did. The drugs corrupted you, and the devil did to.

Your blood leaked onto the cement, Tears fell down my face, As I felt the pain from those bullets just as you did, the small hot metal bullet fired from that 45 pierced my skin with that same exact pain. If I could just talk to the man that shot you, I would just ask him why? Was that drug money that important? Why 3 shots? 2 weren’t enough? Why shoot him in the head twice? Why did I have to witness this? Know that you didn’t just kill my father, you killed me to! As a child I witnessed a murder, a murder that changed my life, one that made me into the young man I am today. I witnessed the murder of my own father. I didn’t want to live anymore, like why bother! When I walk with my head down Im thinking of you, and that moment replays in my head like a movie. I wear that jersey #3 The blood from your brains painted your thoughts on because of you, that’s the age I was when you was takthat cement, now every time I visit my grandmother I en away from me. So my soul cries out for you, everysee that blood stain and I know your death is what it thing I do is for you. After all you did I still love you, represent. but what hurt me most dad is that you never told me that I love you.

Bloodshot Red Kethan Kelley

I sit by the window on the dark cold night of the tragedy of my life there were multiple shots fired and screeching of tires. I saw my mother pull up in the drive way but she never entered the house. It was too quiet and I way too hesitant to exit the house but I had to assure my mother safety I opened the door looked to my left then to my right and there was my mother there in plain sight. As I closed the distance between the two of

us I notice the tears from her eyes began to fall. I examined her body to see if she had been hit but there was no damage. I asked her what was wrong and she pointed to the lifeless body lying in the grass pure blood leaking from her body. I lost stability in my legs and fell to my knees. AS I began to weep at the sight of my baby sisters death

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Breaking Barriers Jachob-Anthony Garza

What I thought was going to be a normal Saturday morning turned out to be one of the worst days of my life. My parents were going through a separation and my dad was living with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Terry at the time. I had just woken up staying over at my cousin’s house that weekend. I notice a lot of noise and hearing people crying as I walked down the hall way.

Walking towards the living room I notice everyone hugging each other, but no one saying anything. It was March 21, 2009, then as I looked up from rubbing my eyes I notice my mother was over and my sister too.”

What’s up I said in my head” My mother called me into my aunts’ Linda’s bedroom. There I notice something wasn’t right. I was nervous and completely oblivious.

What did I do now? Victoria my sister was sitting on the bed along with my uncle. My aunt, uncle and grandparents were standing in the middle of the room to, waiting for me to sit down. The next few words that came out of my mother’s mouth were unforgettable. “I don’t know how to tell you this son, so I’m just going to say it,” she started. It seemed like hours had passed before she continued. “Your dad passed away this morning.”My heart stopped pumping. My mother continued to talk and explain what had happened, but I tuned out. I was in my own world. My blood went cold and my body became numb. I was speechless. I thought my dad was the strongest man alive and why does this have to happen to me? My father was all I had. He was my world: my dad, my coach, my mentor, and my best friend, really.

After this day, I was a different person. When I realized that the one person I depended on and loved the most was gone, I shut down. I wanted to curl up and be alone all day in my room. I never wanted to talk or be bothered by anything. I pushed away my family and friends and was very rude to my sister and mother. I didn’t care about anyone except myself. I tried to be10

lieve that my dad would walk through the door sooner or later and ask me to go out and have a catch with him.

I knew it would never happen, but I just could not accept that I was never going to see him ever again. He will never be there to see me mature into a young man, he will never be there at my high school graduation, send me off to college or see me get married, and he will never be able to hold his grandkids. That’s what hurts the most.

One of the worst feelings I felt after my dad’s death, was the one I got when people didn’t understand why I was still upset. People believed that I should have gotten over his death a week or two after he was gone. All I could do was try and be strong. I bottled up my emotions. To this day I try to hold in my tears as much as possible. When my friends complain that they hate their parents because they won’t let them go to a party that weekend, or their parents won’t buy them their favorite shoes it makes me envy them. They still have both parents, and have no idea what can happen in the blink of an eye. People don’t understand how lucky they really are.

Being around my family now has helped me move on, but still at times it’s tough for me and I try many times to adjust to help myself. I am very independent in all that I do and always want to remain independent, not relying on others, because I feel that it makes me a stronger person. My dad’s death shaped me into being the best that I could be because I want to make my Dad proud of me. My Dad’s death has impacted me greatly, but has helped me develop into a better person. Because of him, I have become stronger from all of the obstacles I have faced and this will make me an even better and stronger person in the future. Knowing this, I will be able to deal with all of life’s obstacles.

Thank You Dad!!

Jachob

This Place Mitchell Thomas

Diana Castillo

I Miss You, Dad Chelsea Dodd

The Loss of the one you love— Is something hard to swallow.

One minute, together – The next you’re alone.

A candle extinguished— Long before the Sun is set to rise.

The Heavenly Stars – your only Light— You feel the presence of their eyes.

The Emptiness in your life— Mirrors the Emptiness of their body— The Emptiness surrounds you.

You are engulfed entirely.

Days grow easier— With the passage of Time.

You find soft comfort – Until Death reunites.

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Children Daylon Syler

Lyvia Alvarez

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Life is one of the greatest mysteries, It’s so random and so bold That in one moment your Entire world could change.

There are many things that life brings us, Sometimes they’re a blessing and sometimes there not so great.

But I have been lucky enough to Have one of the blessings even though Some would say at my age, “it’s a curse.”

But their words don’t even hold my attention, I’m talking about having kids.

In four weeks I’ll turn seventeen, And in 6 months I’ll become a father.

Kids change a lot of things, even before they arrive.

My girlfriend and I have learned more about life In these three months than we did in the eighteen months We were together before conception.

I’ve learned about goals and expectations And learned what it means to be a man.

I have a long journey ahead of me, But at least I’m not alone.

If You Really Knew Me Anonymous

If you really knew me, you would know I’m not as happy as I may seem. I’ve seen and experienced a lot, which has made me, mature faster than expected. I’m not your average teenager. When I was about three, my father died. He was murdered on the streets of Louisiana. Of course he wasn’t a good guy, but no one deserves to have their life taken. Yes, he sold drugs, he also used them, crack cocaine in particular…no one cared, simply because the money was coming in, fast.

Although I was young, very young, I knew exactly

asked my mom why daddy never woke up to play with me. That feeling scared me for my life; I would never want my daughter to feel that.

After some years, when I was about ten my mom met this guy. He went by the name of Joe Mumphrey. He seemed like a nice guy, things went well for a couple of months. Months later I found myself rumbling through his papers, which I found underneath of my mom’s bed.

This man was a murderer. Not only that but he doesn’t get off parole until 2005. He went to jail at the age of 18

what was going on. Everyone knew my crack-head babysitter, Angie, she would baby sit us for her fix.

Anyways, before we got the call from my dad’s mom Madea, and there’s a reason I call her Madea instead of grandma. My mother felt it, she knew something was wrong. When the call came in everybody was in silence, the kind of silence you see in the movies, that dramatic pause. The voice on the other end of the phone, which was Madea, said my father was shot. He was in critical condition. He was on one of those machines that help you breath. I think they called it “life support’. In a mean sluggish way she said she was about to pull the plug and if we wanted to say anything to him or feel his body for the last time, we had less than 30 minutes. Not

but he served 25 years.

Anyways, one night after a get together we were having for my 12th birthday… I was molested. This guy, I won’t say his name, he was a friend of my mother’s boyfriend Joe. I was walking through the hallway of my house passed the restroom when I felt something tug on my arm. The bathroom door was slammed closed and it was dark, the only noise I could here was the bass from the music down stairs and him breathing heavily in the cuff of my neck, near my ear. He kept saying “relax” as his hand slowly moved between my thighs, I felt his tongue on my lips, and I could taste the beer from his mouth. He forced his toungue down my throat, it was slimy, I felt like I just swallowed a worm, I couldn’t

considering we were in Houston and they were in Louisiana. We raced there to only hear the loud constant beat, that indicated there was no more beating of his heart and life was gone. I was three years old. THREE, just three, and I knew what that sound was.

Well I never did see Angie any more; the crack head that made me noodles, wieners and made me watch Tom and Jerry. While she went in the back room, and did her business at least she had enough manners to excuse herself. Other crack heads just did it right in my face.

The funeral was a challenge. I didn’t understand why my dad stayed asleep and never woke up. I constantly

help but wonder, what did this guy want with a 14 year old.

Although more things happened that night, I won’t write it in this paper because if you really knew me you would know, I don’t tell too much of my business. Just know, that night I was no longer a fourteen year old girl, I was now a mentally grown woman . No one ever knew this about me and I prefer no one to know. I don’t want no one to pity me or look at me differently, its just too awkward. So don’t fix you mouth to tell anyone because if you really knew me you know I would punch you in it.

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Friend or Foe Sanderryo Hamilton

A wise man once told me to choose my friends “Wisely”, but I’ve learned that a true friend is not chosen. A true friend is discovered. I’ve looked around and found no friend in sight, but one cannot understand what they see without insight. Insight comes before discovery and the things that need to be discovered are often out of sight, such as good friend qualities. Living in a world where fair and foul are becoming more similar in definition makes it hard to discover what is true without deception. I take the “F” in friend and put it in “Family”, but even family has an “I” when friendship consist of more than one. Friends can never be forever

because the “End” in “Friend” won’t allow it, but family on the other hand is forever, regardless of calamity or disastrous weather. Foes are often hidden by the pretty pictures that are taken by people who discover with no insight; as cameras flash at everything in sight.

It’s unlikely for foes to be befriended by family, but more likely for friends and family to be foes, and foes to be family. So in a sense, I’m surrounded by friends, but true friends hide in family which never ends. You begin with family and end up with friends while the F in them both moves to Foe…

Left Behind Joel Lorres

The blue sky slowly darkens, as the sunlight fades away.

I sit alone in this twilight, Amidst a landscape of gray.

Shadows reach out grasping.

The coldness stills the air.

I glance down upon the lake before me, to the reflection at which I stare.

What image is this before me?

Whose eyes burn into mine?

Vague recollections taunt me of what I left behind.

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Lyvia Alvarez

Favors of My Past Spread to My Future Sylvia Wheeler

Growing up in the 70’s my life was different from most families but I didn’t quite know it at the time. If we took a family trip to anywhere my father would constantly stop to help people if they were broke down on the side of the road. My mother would complain that it always took us forever to get anywhere. His response was that one day she may need help and his hope was that someone would stop to help her because he had always taken the time to help people. It’s the “Paying it Forward” ideal. Someone does you a favor and it’s your job to do a favor for the next person. Slowly over time this way of thinking affected us all. I grew up helping people every chance I got. I was 18 years old and saw a woman walking with groceries while holding a baby in the hot summer temperatures we have here in Houston.

When I stopped to offer her a ride she seemed hesitant.

I said to her “look if it was me I’d want a woman to offer me a ride.” Now as an adult I have four children and guess what? I’ve rubbed off on them too. If we’re sitting at a light and there’s a homeless person on the corner guess where my left overs from the meal we just ate are going? You got it. To the person in need wherever we are. I know that many of these people on the

corners really aren’t as poor as people think but what if they are? Taking a chance at kindness doesn’t cost me anything but a few loose coins or some left overs.

The feeling I get and the lesson it teaches my kids are far more rewarding. The other day I was coming home with two of my daughters and I saw a little old lady outside my neighborhood holding groceries and a sign that said “Highway 6”. She was a few miles from her destination and it was night time. So we zoomed around the corner and my kids took her groceries and we gave her a ride down the road to her apartments. It was out of our way and we spent ten extra minutes helping someone. The lady told me she had been standing there for two hours and no one had offered her help that whole time. Where were my fellow do gooders? I know that we live in a big city and it can be dangerous to help people, but I guess I’m just old fashioned and I think helping people is a strong part of who I am and who I want my children to be. My father died when I was just ten years old. He has no idea how he affected my life and how it has passed on to my children. So thanks dad for making me a pay it forward person. It’s gonna take me a lifetime to equal who you were. Love you dad.

Turning a Negative into a Positive Decarrio Turner

Gentleman, the sweet guy, nice head on his shoulder Yes I heard it all but do they really know It all started when I was dad-less for a while Not seeing him at a young age it was hard for me to smile He showed up then he dipped out Soon as he left I showed out Acting a fool thinking he would come back Momma asking “why you acting like that” I didn’t know what to say but I was always on my knees to pray He showed up with a different woman other than my mother It was confusion on the faces of me and my brother I was ready to fight I haven’t heard from you since you left You were supposed to be there to tell me

I don’t need a night light But it’s all different now I’m me cause of you See what they told me about you is all true Everything about me is every bit of you Forgive and forget is what they tell me You’re forgotten and I forgive myself And I’m not ashamed about it You coming back, I doubt it It hurts inside But I won’t cry just strive For what I want I see you and your smiles But it won’t be bigger than mine Your calls are missed for a reason But I’ll answer just this season To let you know that I’m doing just fine 15

Life

Daniella Gallegos All this love has expanded, No longer two but three.

Yes the world has frozen, For he has left you indeed.

This is all new, for you haven’t lived it before.

All the love he had for you now is gone.

An empty room is all you’ve got, No longer three but two, …..Only you and life.

Your future has changed, Your plans have vanished, Dreams, now you find unreachable, But you hang on tight. …...Only you and life.

Two months left, The worst, you’ve overcome.

Now a smile is on your face, and you can’t wait to be called mom.

The time has come, A problem you are to face.

A life has to be saved. … you or life, “god save this child, don’t take him out of my life!” these are fainted prayers that a lonely soul cries.

A miracle has occurred, For faith, you didn’t lose.

An innocent cry is heard.

Your tears go lose.

Happiness fills you up, And you stand stronger than before.

It’s you and life…..

16

Less Than a Man Deairo Douglas

can you really call yourself a man? if u saw me today would you be able to even look me in my eyes?

You send me cards, you call constently, just to say you’re sorry But am i the only one?

Did u call my older sister and my nephews whomi didn know were alive until i was 17 Or how about my younger brothers and sisters that i dont know?

Did you call the man that took your place in my life as my father, did u tell him you were sorry that you dumped one of your “responsibilities� on him? Be happy i dont break yo face for puttin yo hands on my moma she cant even stand to look at me sometimes because i look just like you!

I consider myself a man! Not because of my age, not because im handelin my buisness, but because im no longer letting the fact that you walked out on me and my mom hold me back from achieving greatness, im no longer letting the fact that you let ME yo first son get raised by another man hold me back from achieving greatness! So i just want to say thankyou thankyou for bringing me into this world Goodbye.

Kirollos Edward

17

My Destruction in April Sjaddon Britton

I woke up from a dream hot and sweating then I realized it was reality.

The small problems I had soon grew to tragedies Looking at a strong woman becoming so weak I just sat and watched and asked God why me?

As I saw the tears roll down my mothers face It makes my heart race I began to hold her as the tears roll down her face Its funny how a man cant learn from his own mistakes Telling his family lies like I couldn’t see it in his eyes A man should never walk out on his family and leave but you did with no problem Leaving my mother with bigger problems not knowing how to solve them Took all the money when the bills was due And what hurt most you left when my mother really needed you You left knowing the sickness she was going thought And at her weakest moment you decided to break the news You left because you couldn’t carry the load Telling my mother that the problem was just that the marriage got old Pushed away god and kept the devil close The pain cut me deep, I couldn’t believe That you would leave and take everything That left my soul to bleed my heart to burst And me to live the rest of my life in hurt So how are we supposed to survive now that you walked out of our lives You left us to struggle so I turned to god to help us with this tussle So what do I do?

I have no one to teach me to be a man because I cannot learn from you My teacher walked out on me and my substitute never could give me the correct show So im stuck at a crossroad with no direction to go A broken family happened because of your actions Adultery is what you have committed What a cheater can do to a marriage I am a witness Told me lies, and for that my soul cries I can still see the hurt and pain in my mother’s eyes All the nights she couldn’t sleep You didn’t give a damn because you was out there in another women’s bed sheets I was out there trying to heal wounds you created Because of your actions she is scared to find a replacement I sat by her side every night just to make sure she was alright.

My destruction was also a creation of a strong young man In the beginning I didn’t see but now I understand It wasn’t your job to teach me to be a man

18

Listen

Ashley Abbs I’m screaming at the top of my lungs, But you only here a whisper.

I stand in front of your eyes, yet it’s as if I’m glass.

I may be small, but there’s a huge voice inside of me saying Listen!

Praying that you’ll listen!

Hoping and wishing that you’ll see me.

I’m right here!

I’ve always been here.

You never saw me. Not when I was a tiny seed, and not now when I am at eye level.

I bet you don’t even know my name.

How could you?

Sad thing is, I won’t even listen to my head, to busy tryna follow my heart and get you to see me.

Get you to hear me I need you to listen.

My Love for Her Johnelle Barnett

She is the person i strive to be.

Slow to anger and always at peace.

She is as sweet as can be like the candy I always eat.

She is always there, But it seems like I don’t care.

I never call, But it hurts me that I can’t see her at all.

I want things to go back to the way they use to be, But it seems like they will never be.

I hope she knows how much I love her, Because I would never put no one above her.

Its hard for me because I’m here and she’s there.

I wish I could go there and tell her how much I care.

These aren’t just words on a piece of paper.

These are the feelings I don’t know how to say to her.

My love for her burns within.

I’ve rarely seen her since I was ten.

All I have are memories from then.

I know time is ticking and she’s getting older.

I just wanna be there so I can hold her.

I love my grandma and she has my heart.

But it kills me that we are so far apart.

19

The Expression of the Precious Child Taylor Jones Edwards

I love -you…three words I’ve been waiting to escape your mouth for years, three words I’ve heard all around me, but never towards me, three words I hope when you say, you actually mean…mean it from your heart not from your mind- thinking that’s what parents are supposed to say… But instead its I hate you, you a mistake, you ain’t ---, that word I must not say.

But I didn’t ask you to have me- and I didn’t ask you to keep me…so why are you mad?... is it because I favor that man that hurt you so bad, the man that is now dead leaving you feeling worthless living with your CHILD that you hate… well that’s not my fault… I’m supposed to be your baby and you’re supposed to be my best friend. So if anybody is mad it should be me.

I love you! Three words I’ve been waiting to escape my mouth for years. But I guess me, myself, and I is all I have in this life.

The Fight Decarrio Turner

Tears pooring down my face. Fear in the eyes of my brother. My dad laying his hand on this beautiful woman. Telling me everything will be okay is the only thing my uncle could do. It was late I doubt that me and my brother were going to school. I cried so hard I began to get a headache. The pain was horrible to stand. The fight in her eyes, I never seen this before. She began to search for a weapon, something to get him good for the beat he gave her. She began to approach him with a knife. From the kitchen she began to yell a whole bunch of gibberish. My brother and I had our ears against the door. We cracked the door slightly and saw the knife from my mother’s hand slide in my dads stomach. Tears fell fast down my face, but as I looked at my brother

20

you can tell it didn’t matter to him. I thought it was because it wasn’t his father that this knife went through.

But I don’t know he barely shows emotion. My uncle dailed 911 and asked for a ambulace. As the blood drip to the floor my parents still argued like he wasn’t bleeding at all. A few mins pass, the police and ambulace arrive. My mom was arrested for stabbing my dad and my dadwas rushed to the hosptial. Saddest moment ever, just being there watching the blood drip in that ambulace. I was holding him tight but realized later that the blood was on me. I sat in the waiting area as my dad got stiched up. Only in my underwear and socks because that’s what i sleep in. I never wanna experience that again.

Losing Myself Sanderryo Hamilton

As I entered the room slowly, my eyes wondered across the faces of the people sitting inside the benches in each aisle. I noticed that most of them were filled with a mixture of emotions, some sorrow, some betrayal, some fear, some hatred, but most were filled with disappointment. Then I realized that the people sitting were most likely parents or relatives to the other young people who either made a mistake to get in the situation, or just didn’t know any better. As I approached the judge’s stand to plead my case I noticed my parents standing close by. I looked at mother trying to avoid eye contact. Tears slithered down her face like serpents, striking my heart as they fell to the floor. Standing next to her, surprisingly, was my father. When I looked into his eyes there was a surge of hatred and anger stirring inside me. His presence was insulting and the look of disappointment on his face made me want to punch a hole through his throat. My father had never been there for me, whether it was my first football game or my first poetry recital, his presence was extinct. I simply looked at him as a seventy five dollar check in the mail every month and nothing more. I quickly turned from his appearance and faced the judge. The judge looked down upon me with a look of pure disgust before he spoke.

“Before I sentence you, do you have anything to say for yourself?” he said. I quickly frowned at my father before I spoke

“I stand before you as an African American male who committed a crime. Looking from the outside in, I could understand why you would feel no sympathy, so before you sentence me I will give you a short inside look. In my life, I had no One man to guide me when I was walking on the wrong side of the road; nor did I have One man to come into my life and put food on my table to feed my family. I simply had my mother, my struggling, jobless mother. Things got hard as strife knocked on my front door and I didn’t have a man of the house to answer it and send it away… I had to make myself that One man.”

The judge looked at me before giving my father a look of disgust. Regardless of the situation, I felt good

about letting out the truth. It made the next words I heard a little easier to bare… “6 TYC”

As I walked from the court room the shackles began to weigh me down as the sound of my mothers’ sobs slowly became a whisper in my ears; it was a sound that would haunt me the entire six months on confinement. Before walking through the door that separated us I took a final glance back at my family... The six months without them would be long and lonely.

From the moment I stepped off the bus and walking into the building I knew the place was much worse than it seemed. As my eyes wondered across the new environment I inhaled the fact that it was the place I had to make my home for the next six months. When I walked into my assigned unit all eyes turned straight towards me. Through the crowd of about 12 men ranging from age 15 to 18, I heard a loud yell “New Boot!” I learned the meaning shortly after.

The officer assigned me a bunk and locker to call my own. He also let it be known that the officers were not responsible for misplaced objects within the locker, meaning if someone were to steal my things it was my responsibility to find out who and get it back. Just from that remark I knew that trouble was inevitable within the walls of the institution. I had to survive the only way I knew how, and if I didn’t know… I would have to learn, and I would have to learn fast.

My first night’s sleep was horrible. I had nightmares of the tragic events that led me into the hell hole. I reenacted the scene of the 15 year old boy holding a gun to an innocent person’s brain, and was horrified that 15 year old boy was me. Even in my dreams I felt like a monster, maybe I belonged in TYC, maybe I wasn’t a good guy acting bad, maybe I was the opposite. The nightmares seemed endless, constantly reminding me of who I was. Sometimes I was afraid to sleep. Sometimes I stayed up hours reading, or doing anything to keep me away from the nightmares that haunted me; nightmares that I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life.

21

Walk With Me Daniella Gallegos

Hold my hand, that’s all I ask. Walk with me that’s all I crave.

Smile back when I smile at your sight.

Say hello and not good-bye.

Ask how my day was, and don’t mind to ask me about fights.

Look at me, I’m here wondering about hoe transparent I appear to be since you won’t look at me.

Please take one solemn breath and say hi. Embrace me and do it tight.

Don’t go and stay here.

My dear pillow is the only friend I have.

We are under the same cloud, but it rains more over me than over you.

I’m not all about the cash, love is what I demand.

Bring me back to the place you were born. Doesn’t matter if you were poor. I bet you were the happiest child in the world.

So walk me through life like you were once walked. Hold me up when I fall. Keep me from screaming when you go and tell me my fears are only nightmares and that you and I together will soar.

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Sandra Cahee

Jessica Nartowski

23

Could’ve Been Me Peyton Osuobeni

Carl Walker an innocent eleven-year-old radiant baby boy with beautiful brown eyes and a bright smile awakens everyday in heaven in a white-three story house but when he walks in the doors of his new middle school it is as if he has just now entered into a prison cell a place where he is bullied I’m talking about being picked on and picked last made fun of, called names because his backpack and mind were filled to the capacity with books so Carl was made a target by his arrogant, overbearing, and cruel peers they even beat him up he had gotten into a fight which is what Carl told his mother one afternoon and that he was called gay and told he acted like a girl hearing those words could shatter a mind that Carl takes to the third story of his home and when his mom calls him down for dinner there is no feet pounding down the steps, no verbal response because April 6, 2009 is the day Carl commits suicide when watching this I began to cry after I realize that could have been me I began to remember being pushed and not being able to walk with my head held high in the hallways not being able to look in the mirror unless finding the negative that was first found by someone at school or being called ugly and fat which left me no appreciating life so that could have been me THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND! so when I get finished with this poem I don’t need you to clap because you think it exposes the unfortunate reality of perishables because if we would have given them the praise need before they died and they realized the God that always be their side maybe, just maybe they would still be here so I need you to realize what you are doing the next time YOU decide to pollute a mind YOU might as well be acting as the cause of a future suicide and I refuse to hear about another demise such as Carl Walker simply because he became traumatized by his bullies analyze yourself and stop the bullying before it is too late

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Lyvia Alvarez

A Dreary Day Gina Holcomb

The day was gloomy and dull, and it seemed to drown out all my light.

The birds didn’t chirp on this day, and the wind didn’t blow in the sweet smells from May. The day was gloomy and dull, and the people who I saw were blurred images of gray.

The sounds they made were muffled, and the looks they gave were shuffled The day was gloomy and dull, and the clock seem to stand still.

The minutes became days, and the hours were delayed.

The day was gloomy and dull, and my mind seemed to lose control.

The unbelievable thoughts of depression swirled into my mind, and positive thoughts were hard to find.

The day was gloomy and dull, I thought but when I sought the word it turned my gloom to light.

The dark faded, and His love seeped in, and my joy was restored and my faith was always within.

Menace

Lyvia Alvarez His mother is dying. His heart is in pain.

Soft cries in the bathroom stall.

He stops. He hears a noise.

The door opens wide.

A group of boys heard him cry.

They call him names as they drag him out.

Push and pull and punch.

They spit at him, call him weak.

He calls for help, no ears heard.

He lay there broken and beaten.

Tears once again in his eyes.

He then saw his mother by his side. She kissed him on the forehead for one last goodbye.

25

Caged Phoenix Ashley Abbs

I am not just a small girl.

I am a caged baby bird, delicate and fragile to this world.

Smallest of the bunch, always forgotten.

I was the last to receive love.

There is a fire within me burning greater than the sun.

No ocean can put me out.

I’m burning. I am a phoenix.

Burning with desire for love, longing for hope, raging with anger.

Anger that was put upon me through you, through you.

I am your child, I look just like you, have your last name.

You can’t deny me when I’m right in front of you.

You think you’re the only one who hurts? Get over it! It’s my turn to hurt. Sit down and listen!

How could you give me your anger?

How could you make him angry?

How could you love her more and forget about them?

You reap what you so.

So be a farmer and make us right.

All I ever wanted was to be loved. All I wanna hear is that I’m your princess, your baby girl.

Tell me I’m a beautiful swan and not an ugly duckling.

Make me feel safe.

No distance shall ever come between us.

I wanna know you so I can know myself.

I wanna trust guys and fall in love.

I wanna be your little girl.

Walk me to my prince and give me away with a smile.

So I can finally say thank you dad, my cage is open and I can soar.

I will rise and be the hope for future caged baby birds to come.

26

Bitter Memories Lyvia Alvarez

The look in his eyes remind me… of our goodbye.

It was a clean breakonly for my hearts sake.

I miss the memories we both sharedbut nothing is here now it’s all bare.

Hold me one last time – that’s where you drew the line.

Katherine Cantu

27

Change

Jasmine Jones I can make smart verses at the top of my head.

I go for my dreams like birds go for some bread.

Everything I say is logical, matter fact philosophical.

Lovable, adaptable, never retractable.

My words flow, my mind follows pretty soon it’s too much for me to swallow But I give back what I borrow.

I got so many questions that flow through my head They activate in my sleep while I’m dead in my bed Forced to see kids being raped by their father.

Then flip the script and change the scene a prostituting daughter.

UN accepting mothers, rapist brothers.

In my dreams it unfolds how we treat each other.

Humanity is a tragedy.

Love to hate is sad to see.

We raise our young men up to only study the anatomy.

And biology, pimping psychology to ding dong ditch that “witch” and say daddy are you proud of me.

From a jail cell, and you wonder why your life smells.

You wonder why you’re set to fail, your life is a living hell its got to change.

And women are taught to not have daughter But that’s hard to comprehend when they don’t have fathers.

To guide them to step up to the plate and be a man, and understand that she can’t be what she needs without you.

A generation of lost boys, and I aint talking peter pan, cause there ain’t no way a boy can be a man without a man.

These are questions that flow through my mind. I cant wake up, shake it off and say it’s gonna be fine, Not while that boy is without dad.

Not while that little girl remains sad a lonely high school grad getting beat by her step dad.

Not while that man just can’t understand that god has a plan b4 he brings his life to an end. Not while that family just lost a life to a gang fight.

It’s got to change!

28

Black Sins Lyvia Alvarez

Bubbling and boiling, I stir the pot.

With every pop of a bubble a shrill scream steams up.

Red hatred, Brown guilt, Yellow jealousy, Green envy.

Black broth in a pot.

The fire keeps it fresh and warm, our sins against humanity.

Pottery of the finest kind and a ladle of crystal glass Scooping the gooey broth with the finest goblet, pouring it in a porcelain bowl.

Take a bite- it’s ok…

They’re our sins anyway

Lyvia Alvarez

29

Closed Doors Decarrio Turner

All I want in this world is to get through that door There’s something pulling me, calling me, asking me for more It’s a boundary; it’s something I can’t get through All I need is the key, all I need is you I’m struggling, angry, fighting, hitting You have the key but where is it, its missing My dream girl is behind this door but the sounds of my knock is what she ignores Just show me your face is all I need Let me in just to find the key When no one is on the other end to let me in Should I just wait or like cops and just bust in Banging until I am heard I’m starting to give up Then I see your face I’m lost for words when I see your heart’s lit up You regret the days you ignored me I think of the times you lured me I was persistence in my attempts to get you And now that I see you I’m glad you adore me Before it was just a door between our faces But Rihanna taught us both that you can find love in hopeless places

30

Kevin Campbell

Childish Lanaya Alfred

How could you be such a jerk? I thought that we would have something different…. Guess I was wrong. As I recall you were the one calling me baby; you said that you “loved” me. You wrote me convincing poems. You told me that you didn’t like getting hurt. I would like to know if it was possible for me not to be hurt. Did you care? We don’t talk anymore but you come to me or text me when you want something.

You are so full of it. I find it funny how guy’s call a girl sensitive and when it comes to us calling them out of their name or do what they do to any female then they get mad. Why are guys so predictable? So many of them want us to think they are not the same but I’m pretty sure that I can name the type of guys that I’m around pretty much every day. There are the cheaters; the jealous type the guys that make empty promises.

The guys that use and abuse you, the guys that have to lie to impress you, the obsessed guy, the overprotec-

tive guy, the sneaky guy, the guy with anger issues, the guy that’s too sensitive, the guy with no confidence.

The wannabe guy, the guy that claims he a gangster; the guy that does more following than leading. The hit it and quit it guy, the guy that’s too cocky. The guy that acts strait but he is really gay…. All of them are the same but in different ways. But I know what I want. I want a tall independent guy. A guy that ain’t no follower, not a cheater, not a beater. If he makes a promise I want him to keep it. I want a truth teller. A guy that compliments me and not call me a _________ oops I’m sorry. I want a passionate guy, I’m not that picky. He don’t have to be perfect because no one is. I like a guy with flaws, a guy who makes mistakes but knows how to make up for it, I want a guy that acts his age and not his shoe size, I want a real guy, not a child!!

Cody Corbett 31

Love

Ana Gallegos Crying with the rain hoping nobody sees me Trying to speak to ears that won’t bother Love is a word that deceives me…

Lies are just a process to get to the truth, To assure your love for them, many need proof Looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, Truth seeps through our hands like a funnel I thought from the past I would one day recover, Never thinking of what could’ve been instead of what it turned out to be, Life is what you make it, and once it’s made it can’t be undone After everything I’ve been thru, my heart sits here tired and weak I need you to talk to me but you won’t even speak, I’m too tired to even think, even though many wounds you left me, I stand strong with wings of steel waiting for the day someone comes and Decides my heart to heal

32

Kirollos Edward

I Understand Anger Desiree Bartholomew I understand the anger and your hurt but to be honest I don’t really care.

I refuse to be a product of my environment I’m not going to be that 1 in 5 statistic.

Never complain at the hand I was dealt because its life.

I probably wouldn’t even be here if it was any worse but I’m not feeling sorry for myself.

I understand your anger but my battle is far from done.

Diana Castillo

33

Free Men Jeylen Arteaga

Imagine the pain of being torn apart from the people you hold dearest to your heart, or having the constant vision of you glancing back at them one last time to see tears rushing down their side.

And to have to live through that melancholic feeling each day even though your heart is aching, even though your heart is breaking They shouted at them a million times that they should go back to their countries because there’s not room for them here.

But as I recall, they didn’t cross the border, the border crossed them.

We marked the line so that they could jump it and so

we call them invaders and that’s a commonly unjust mistake. Because America was born free…man…divided it.

They didn’t come here to cause war, raids or any trouble, their just hard working people wanting a better tomorrow.

And if history isn’t lying, the powerful natioin settled here, in the glory among brave warriors, Indians of two continents mixed with Europeans.

And if we take centuries into account, they are just as American as we are.

Because America was born free…men…divided it.

Goodbye

Bianca Schumake You say you love me And I’m the only girl that comes across your mind You even insist on breaking our hourglass Because we’re only wasting time As for my beauty, you tell me its one of a kind That if I don’t act quickly my looks won’t be as fine Honestly what makes you think you can bribe You love is a traitor in disguise And I’m not trapped in your deceitful little eyes You can’t even give me chills up my spine The thought of being with you makes me blind Honey this right here isn’t for you and I So I think its best if we just say goodbye Bye.

34

Doors

Kadejah Gray One day you’re here The next you’re gone No time for goodbyes.

Only time to wish to Hear their laugh again, To feel there touch, To wipe their tears away, To call when your scared and cold.

See you wish for that behind closed doors.

So no one can see you tears, Hear your cry, or comfort t you.

You have too much pride for that, huh?

No one can help you if you don’t open your closed doors.

Fantasy Ana Gallegos

I talk but they don’t listen, I yell but they just shut me down Tie me up like a knot, throw me away like trash Excuses you can’t use for they’ve already been downgraded Apologies are recycled, many words are overrated I wish I was sleeping; I’m walking in nightmares waking up to reality Love once was my dream, but now that’s just a fantasy and I’ve prayed it wasn’t a part of me.

Lexie Mayfield

35

Heaven

Kaitlyn Cowan If you’ve been there you would see That it’s a place for you and me Its white pure and full of love And will remain forever above Jesus has told me once again To pray every night and end with Amen Some don’t believe it, read it, or understand it But when they die they’ll pray to have it Sing, live, joy to bring Adam and Eve mean everything Husbands, daughters, mothers, brothers All in all we love each other Some we’ve lost and others remain But one day we’ll see each other again And on that day I’ll close my eyes To see the darkness and start to cry A breeze will come with a slight ease For heaven will bring me to my knees I’ll look up in the sky and see the light And soar to god like a meteorite I’ll shake his hand and gently say “Hi” But for Mother Nature I’ll say “Goodbye”.

36

Katherine Morgan

I’m Inspired Girl Kendrick Chisley

Her smile from ear to ear I’m guessing she’s happy Or in a good mood about something, She wants someone that stays true to her No lies, No fronting, Time well spent No pain, no worries, No trouble He listens while he’s learning, I’m inspired Girl…

She has her own Pay the bills to her phone Now that’s a lot going on But I’m inspired girl…

What more can I say She has a lot going for her Brains, style, Personality, smile.

We know the physical But Im trying to understand the spiritual Whatever it takes for me to get next to you…

You can’t blame me for trying

Mahrukh Shiekh

Cause I’m inspired girl You’re great paired with the right guy And I’m trying to be that guy So what’s up girl?!

Tell me something..

37

It Only Takes a Hug Ja’wan Prince

It only takes a hug to make someone feel better…

It only takes a hug to make someone feel like family…

It only takes a hug to stop someone from ending their life…

It only takes a huge to save an unborn child from strife…

It only takes a hug to invite a stranger to feel loved…

It only it took a hug to make the world see how much love we really need…

Last to Stand Alejandra Plata

Today I broke free, I found the strength the reason to be.

No more tears I cry and no more pain I feel, no more sadness just scars left to slowly heal.

No more looking behind to see who stabs my back, but fulfill my life with the courage that yesterday I lacked.

No more feeling alone and no more feeling scared, found the courage to step up and do things I’ve never have dared.

No more hiding under and trembling in my fear, there won’t be a reason for my eyes to cry those fearful tears.

Today I am free and finally experience this liberty, it’s not a dream more like my truth and reality.

The sky doesn’t look the same it finally has changed, in my eyes it won’t reflect the sadness pain and rage.

I finally broke off and today I see, experienced the feeling of being finally liberated and free.

Because nobody deserved my falls or to be the reasons that I cried, Nobody deserved my reason to be strong or the reason I survive I am strong for who I am one day they will finally understand, that the strong is not who take in more but it’s the last to stand.

Because courage is only found within myself nobody will take that away, it’s the only light to the most fearful and darkest of my days.

Life isn’t about what situation I am in, it’s how I decide to put the enough courage to my life be living It’s being brave to do what my mind wants to be, it’s about having the strength and finally being free 38

The Perfect Guy Kaitlyn Cowan

I hate myself, you love everything about me.

You say I’m beautiful And keep loving me, I hate my skin and my face, but you admire it like your special place, I don’t think guys like me, never giving me a chance, But you came into my life making my heart dance, I know forever that this love is true So I just wanted to say these two little words “thank you”.

Love is a Battlefield Jasmine Jones

Love is a battle field. Jump in with your sword and shield, make sure that you being real. There are people looking to kill, looking to steal your heart break it and take it. Say they love you for a couple of days, but when you need their help they just walk away. Don’t even stop. No delay. They will be with you as long as you can pay.

But don’t get it twisted; love is fun, just as long as you got your gun. On you holster keep it closer cause baby you’re going to need it and when they get to lien you gone need to feed it and might in fact tell them to beat it.

Tell them it’s over pick up your four leaf clover and jump back in the war for the soldiers , but this time send in a message, tell them to check it and let them other soldiers know you isn’t nothing to mess with. Be the king, be the queen but remember, love is another word for being blind. It will mess up your mind. So you have to take your time I know, I’ve been through it. Love is a battle field advice from me to you

Mustafa Zakir

39

I’ve Changed Jasmine Jones

I can’t stand it when you do that, When you make me change my mind, When you make me scared of you, Too scared to guard myself too.

I hate it when you ask me of my opinion, But change your mind later, Change your mind and from my words, My feelings, My wishes, They go undisturbed to you, My wants don’t mean a thing to you!

I scream at the fact that my voice isn’t clear, My “yes” is your no, My “please” is your hatred, My “sorry” is your anger, My “feelings “ are your captor.

Seized forever in the dungeon I can never get to,

Unlock, Free, Release.

It kills me inside that I can never voice my opinion to you.

I can never tell you what’s on my mind because I’m scared.

Scared of what you’ll say, Scared that you’ll reject me, Who I am, What I’ve become, What I now live for, Scared to let you know that I’ve changed.

I’ve changed…

My outlook,

My demeanor,

My perserverance,

My realization towards you, I struggle to understand you, In reality I don’t need to, I don’t need to understand no one but myself.

MY opinion matter, MY thoughts count, MY feelings are released.

I’m free.

I’ve come to relize that what I’ve begged To scream, what I’ve begged to plead is built up Emotions screaming at me. Forcing me to say what I’ve felt for a long time…

I’ve solely wanted to say “ I hate you”

I hated what you’ve done to me,

I hated what you’ve forced me to be then, But needless to say “ I love you.”

I always have. Always will. In the end, “ I forgive you.”

40

Lies

Lexie Mayfield You laugh You cry But for some reason you have the right to tell me lies?

Let me know, Tell me!

What’s your reason for deceiving me?

That isn’t the proper question here is it?

The proper question is why me?

I did nothing yet you turn your back on me!

Me, of all people, someone who was there for you , when people turn their back on you!

But you didn’t think about that did you?

Think about it now!

Think about who was there when no one wanted to be!

Think about who was there when you got that phone call!

Who was there…

Me, I was!

I was there for you! But that doesn’t matter, does it ?

You only thought about yourself, how bad you had, how hard your life was.

My past wasn’t hard but believe me It wasn’t easy.

Like you care, I doubt you anyway.

And to think after all that I still go back.

Then it starts All Over Again.

You laugh You cry And you still tell me lies.

Mustafa Zakir

41

Life is a Puzzle Morgan Carlson

Life is like a puzzle Just waiting to come to life Some pieces are harder to find then others Some just require a lil hard work.

But lack of concentration can throw you off And ahead of that, disappointment awaits.

With courage and faith can go a long way For the end of the path a creation is mad.

For life is like a puzzle Just waiting to come to life.

42

Mustafa Zakir

Light Skinned Zakery Wright

Her eyes were Hazel They danced like a flickering flame, but held back the tears of slavery Her skin was light like mine because apparently Master took favor of her mother and her would be father is hanging from a tree cause he tried To stop this sin She just couldn’t understand why she was hated, Why people gave her this look wondering why she Was created Not accepted by either side, she could not find any comfort For her pain and she wants to cry but the tear ducts for her light Brown eyes have run dry And so every day she dies a little inside because she Can’t find her place in the world Only knowing the Masters unwanted touch at night And she begins to feel like her mother Cause the white man touching her right now is Probably her father Her screams are muffled by the emotionless abyss She has jumped into because this was her only safe haven She is called out by every single degrading name there was But it wouldn’t matter to her cause its not like she knew her Name to begin with And through all this pain she still wishes for one person To look past her skin color and notice that her soul Is the same color as their But she knows that dream is a lie, and in this day Everything is labeled black and white So she cannot fit between bother worlds cause her only label Was light skinned.

Shades

Katherine Morgan

43

8 Bit Romance Citlalin Ossio

I was dead, battery drained.

Unloved, untouched.

But then you came.

You turned me on.

You pressed the right buttons.

You dusted me clean With your playful touch.

You took me places I never imagined.

After beating all the levels, you won me.

Achievement unlocked: LOVE Warning: I’m fragile.

I’m not rated E for Everyone But M for Mature.

I’ve been hurt and broken before.

Left behind and forgotten.

Please don’t power off or reset.

Let me enjoy this new file, This new love.

Let me play until I can’t anymore.

Even if I die again, Just charge me up, I’ll remember your playful touch.

Love is Not to Be Keithen Kelly

Love isn’t supposed to hurt It shouldn’t feel like you’ve been kicked around and thrown upon dirt.

Then it comes to the point when you ask yourself…

“Is it worth it… do I have to sit around and put up with this?”

No. No longer will I shed tears and cry.

You say you love me but it’s transparent in your actions, so why lie?

You intruded my heart, stole my love, and left me nothing in return.

You took over my life. I thought, “My potential wife” but you left me to crash and burn

44

My Life in Sudan Anonymous

In my country Sudan we were poor. We had no life …we had no place to live or food to eat - my parent suffered a lot to help us live!

In Sudan people use to fight with each other- there’s a lot of bad people that kill babies. Our school in Africa is not like it is here it’s different from here because the teachers over there are mean. If you come to school late to school they beat you up- if you talk in class they hit you and if you talk back to the teacher they will beat you up more.

But now everything changed- except the school. The school is still the same. Now we have food, a place to live since we moved to Egypt. Egypt was a beautiful country but the people over there are not nice, some of them are nice but some of them are mean. Over there if we want to go to school we have to walk a mile to the train station. The school is nice in Egypt, so if I was better than my country I met a lot of friends and family

Katherine Morgan

over there we had everything we had a house to live in my mom worked in Egypt but my dad stayed at home with us.

Whenever we want to eat and we didn’t have food we had to walk a mile to get the food. Me and my brother saved at home and my dad didn’t do anything at home.

All he did was sleep all day and fight all the time.

I do almost everything in the house. I have to cook him food, I have to wash all his clothes, I have to wash my brother and sister. They’re still small so I have to watch over them. Then one time my dad got into a fight with five people, they beat on him because he didn’t have a job.

In Egypt they have a good party every year they celebrate. Then we got together and decided to go to America then we moved here, it was different here in the USA.

45

My Little Dancer Terrance Jackson

March 23rd 2005 is when I first laid eyes on you. I remember your soft brown skin…pretty like fresh honey, I laugh see cuz your hair is short now, back then you had these young pigtails that screamed pull me, eyes that passion for me every time yours met mine… my own god given masterpiece, you see today would be everyday for the rest of my life because I replay it daily…because lately I’ve been aching and your love is my pain pill prescribed you see I must be winning but this has to be sinning because I’m in church right now… and my head is spinning with thoughts of you like I love her, I want her, I love her, I need her. You see I love you like Joe love Katy before the Jackson fame, like Martin and Gina, like purpose at arena girl I love you…Its hard, see I’m trying to paint a perfect picture but pictures aren’t perfect so ill take this perfect portrait just to show you you’re worth it, I love you!

You see this love is danger to a stranger because he has no answer, you see I think I’m infected because your love cell is contagious spreading like a cancer, It’s sad because see since you left my heart has gone from 200 miles per hour daily to 2 miles an hour driving miss daisy, you see since you left storm clouds and hell storms has been my weather, but see god is very clever..See in the beginning like Adam, God created you a part of me and if you love anything regarding me. This man of integrity-then tonight you’ll be next to me... so that morning you’ll ask me what did I dream about and I’ll grab you, I’ll kiss you, I’ll answer my little dancer.

One Word Zakery Wright

Why should you care how one person feels Why should you care how you affect them?

Cause to you she is only One word…

You wrap her mind in your ignorant syllables Shouting it as if you hold power Like a lion you pounce on her self-esteem tearing It to shreds, as if it was a snack to you You don’t know that this in sensitive title runs through Her mind as she hold the knife to her neck Wondering “why”?

She writes her suicide note as if the ink Was her blood Her voice has been silenced and Swept under the carpet and forgotten like A lost memory Because you have turned the Tides against them That name you gave here is posted On her Facebook wall as a reminder that She can’t escape The laughter she hears is like finger nails Against a chalkboard When her parents found her cold body That name you gave her was carved Into her arm But why should you care cause To you she was only one word… Slut

46

Katherine Morgan

Passion

Karla Arredondo I will go to the ends of the earth for you And when you say you don’t want me.

Like my soul.

The very essence of my heart is being turn out You know I am the only person You can count on Let my love cover you like a warm blanket.

I’ve been home thinking of you Waiting for you Staying optimistic Hoping for the slight chance you might call You are my renaissance era You are that cultural movement that fascinates me Is fate a free will or is everything just destiny Because you’ve been written in my path Our love will always prevail in the end, It’s a beautiful thing that no one understands but us Is a song that only we can hear I love you With every fiber of my being Be mine…

Mustafa Zakir

47

Mental Scars Jesse Rodriguez

Abuse and being mistreated leaves mental and physical scars, there is no defeat in my heart, I’m going to come back with angels as guards, a surgeon couldn’t erase my scars. Now I’m left with memories, in other words meaningless history. Just a little boy getting beat down, but in the end got back up. Showing that his heart wont stop pounding and that his will to survive and make it just can’t be destroyed.

Race

Ana Gallegos Hispanic or Mexican, Black or White we’ve all experienced something specialwe’re alive! race is just a word, a simple code to disguise what we truly are, HUMAN. Still you sit there judging, wondering , thinking that you’re real while in reality you are no better than the black boy sitting next to you or the Hispanic girl in front hmm maybe the Hindu at the back you, me, him, she, doesn’t exist for me it’s us.

We all look alike despite our differences we can achieve so much by working together, but you still say you’re better than me?

Really?

I do what you do.. or betterthe only difference is my color, language maybe now I even write a letter, but remember, your color doesn’t make you any better…

Life as you lived it

48

Release Me Ashlee McDaniel

Why are you looking for love, searching as if I’m not enough. coming to realize its always been this way. I put my all, my heart, my mine, my everything, and what did I get in return...nothing. Days pass by, nothing. Months roll on, and nothing. I was holding your hand, why didnt you take a stand. You’re a risk taker right? It seems you were afraid to take a fall. I guess you never got the call that it was time to give your all. It took “I am leaving” for you to put on full focus, but again I was hopeless. It was always me and the other girl. Why not just me, hahahha all this stuff is funny. I’m trying to escape from your heart because you said “I will always be there” but when I touch the knob it wont turn. I’m locked in and cant get out. If you’re not ready why continue to trap me in. You never seemed to have the time to revise my heart and search for all the errors. Did the red painted letters H-U-R-T not get your attention. Ha oh wait, the other girl was the distraction. The door is still locked, Im trying to find a slight hole where I can vanish. Till then I linger in the wind and wait till you realize the scratch marks and beating hand prints on your door. The only things left of me in your heart are the cracks and burns you bruised me with.

RIP By Your Name Decarrio Turner

Young struggling to survive Always on his knees looking up to god Making sure his family eat For filling their every need See there was no father in site His mother and father always would fight To me it’s life See he rather die trying than for it to be given to him The devil creeping, I can see him The drugs and parties It got out of line He wanted to get in the game No more sidelines Selling it or smoking it He wanted to be “about that life” You only live once was in his mind frame The News didn’t know his name Treading topic, Good Morning America, and E! News Additional to the fame Cypress we all knew you Man we miss you it’s crazy to see R.I.P. By your name Wish you didn’t go to that party but the past it’s hard to change Wishing you would come back is all we can do I hope you hear this Ryan we miss you.

Mustafa Zakir

49

Roses and Flowers Daniella Gallegos Roses and flowers.

Roses and flowers, But flowers aren’t roses.

There is an ocean of differences between the both But then, they are just as beautiful Like the sun.

Harmless and harmful they can be Bringing joy as well as salty tears.

Many colors yet colorless, Full of life And proclaiming death.

To show one is sorry, They are given to the hurt.

To show emotions They are given to the loved.

To show pity They are given to those who have lost.

Rose and flowers, Both so sweet.

In many cases given indeed.

Tons of languages they speak.

Hidden within them Millions of expressions They truly mean.

Blooming and Dying Leaving a mark in a special someone’s heart.

They come and go every season.

Sometimes given without a reason.

Harmless and harmful Both so beautiful like the sun.

50

Scratches and Bruises Tia Harris

The little girl in the picture with bruises and scratches.

The one that looks scared and all alone, she looks familiar.

Her skin brown but broken into many pieces by all who were supposed to love and care for her, oh, but no she’s there alone.

The door slammed in her face, and darkness consumes her!

Its only here she finds security, she held her faith in someone she always looked up to, to only look in the sand and saw she only saw her own foot print.

Synced in alone. Silently screaming out to the grey skies that seem to only settle over her head, why me? I told you this girl looked familiar Her skin brown but broken into many pieces by all who were supposed to love and care for her. I finally turned away from the mirror.

This closed doors will no longer be an excuse but a tool for a bigger success that will launch me into self revolution.

Sea of Regret Ariana Donnell

AS her eyes fill with tears She slowly drowns in a sea of regret The pain she’s inflicted upon others Is finally beginning to affect her tired, tormented sow But what did they expect?

A girl with a broken heart…

They couldn’t possibly expect her to love With an empty cavity where her heart should be placed...

And they try to say the world is a messed up place 51

Shades Cyrus Gray

Shades possess the power to separate a brother… from brothers… & sister form each other...

Separate…

But we are all black we should love on another lovers don’t see color just the heart..

To start.

The dark skin brothers hate the light skin brothers but the light skin brothers roll with it.

The caramel brothers just stuck in the middle but continue to find hatred .. the hate floats around like a cycle & I don’t understand it.. to hate a brother wasn’t written in the Bible or at least the one I know..

I know the lord made color beauty…

Truly… they hate each other secretly.. & brothers are starting to loose unity. now brothers fight between one another & all of the others watch…

Like to see pain is a game…

The light shades..

The dark shades..

The right shades..

The wrong shades.. but what’s the wrong shade when everything is beautiful I’m all for unity unify me..

52

Shadows

Devon Burgard The shadows shadows of doubts the shadows we hide and fear the shadows in our souls cast far in ourselves shadows we let control us shadows that control us Shadows of doubts doubts we cast in ourselves our souls the doubt we make by being unfaithful uncaring we are blinded blinded by our own lies our doubts, we create…… we create our own fear we hide our shadows from the world and ourselves We are what the world wants us to be people look and see a fake piece of a piece we hide ourselves till we become miserable with not being whole with a dark hole that lies within we create our shadows…..

These are our shadows we cast ……. create the ones we hide the ones we fear in the end they control us through our own self confidence our own foolish desires to “fit in” as life goes on our shadows will grow be our down fall from our foolish desires to “fix in” should we embrace our shadows? Or continue destroying ourselves… slowly from within?

Katherine Morgan

53

Such a Woman Anonymous

To such a woman, I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about you, That beautiful smileThe way you called my name.

They said you were leading me on, Lying, only playing the game.

I was fifteen when we met, who would’ve thought that that day would be a day I would soon regret.

You had a tendency to break me down But, you can bring me up just as fast.

I thought, What a lovely person I found But I realized what a person you truly were.

Wasn’t long before you had my heart in chains, Choked it with your words Until it screamed from its veins And slowly whispered the words….

Marry me?

Silence…I waited Silence…She cried.

You cried. Cried into to my ear and whispered Yes. My heart was forever chained by those words Not knowing that one day, I wouldn’t forget.

You left me without a word without a key.

You left old begging for someone’s touch Someone to climb that gate, Unlock those chains that were once left for only you.

But its forever locked because of such a woman.

Such a woman that was once you 54

Why?

Ja’waun Prince Why am I writing this poem?

Even though none may feel it…

Why do I take my time to write what bugs me, When I feel that no one loves me…

Why do we claim to have true love But never take 10 seconds just for one hug…

Why does abortion exist?

When there are children alive with cut wrists…

Why do we use words like swag being ignorant and uneducated?

Thinking we have room to brag…

Why is our world filled with so much pain with only each other to place all the blame…?

Scratches on My Face Kindla Zeno

I struggle, my heart burns at the attention I receive.

Seems as if everyday everything I do is wrong,what’s not?

I’m Crying, the tears leave scratches upon my face.

It’s like im all alone im screaming but who hears me?

Maybe it’s because un walking into danger.

I;ve been beat so many times I lay still, Its almost as if im dead.

I open my eyes and look, this person stands infront of me.

She looks just like me only except she smiles as if she made of paint I reach for her and I rise almost as if nothing can stop me.

I relized I never died I had just failed to believe in myself and have to be strong Even through the evil that passes me called life.

55

The Cure Mario Castillo

What is it that you do?

You have all these girls feeling like a fool because they don’t have anything on you.

Every time I’m around you I want to sing the blues-just love songs about you...

You don’t know how much I adore you, want you, need you; this thing is killing me like a virus or two.

People tell me that I am a victim of your love flu.

I can’t sleep, think, or eat but when I’m around you I feel good, alive and I can breathe with ease.

You’re my cure, you’re my cure to this disease, please listen when I tell you this.

I love everything about you, your eyes, your smile, your laugh, your style, you are true beauty in and out.

You have a good heart and that no doubt.

The boy that you with will never treat you like me, I’ll be a gentle man I’ll open doors plus more.

You my favorite girl so if I could I’d give you the whole world, what more can you ask for?

This love flu is getting stronger, you’re my cure, you are exactly what the doctor ordered.

Please come to the rescue before this flu gets out of order.

56

Moris Hernandez

The Effects Jasmine Jones

“Oh my god I’m so sorry”, I said as I nervously closed the door “No, no it’s ok, come in. As a matter of fact I was just thinking about you”.

I stayed in my place. In my mind I wondered why.

Why would he think about me while doing that? I don’t feel right.

Is this right?

As I stood there, his suggestions turned into demands, just as quick as my innocence turned to confusion which turned into fright.

“Come here”, he said, “Don’t be shy, you are a big girl aren’t u?” Patronizing me I shook my head yes but something inside of me told me not to enter that room, something told me to walk away go in my room and lock the door.

I stayed in my place. He told me to come near,

Mustafa Zakir

“Didn’t your mom teach you to listen to grown folk?”

I shook my head yes but I stayed in my place and as I stayed in my place with my mind racing, what did he want from me? Why do I need to come here? Am I over reacting? And why? What was he doing when I opened the door?

Before I could finish my thoughts or comprehend what was going on he grabbed me, My eyes were shut and all I could remember was that he grabbed me, and I screamed and, the pain and the sweat, and how dirty I felt, when he was done with me.

Done with me, a used napkin. I was filthy and disgusting and terrified, but even as I lay there in that bed next to him breathing his air I told myself, it’ all your fault, you allowed him to do this to you. You had a choice you didn’t run, no one can know what you have done. I hate you and I hate him, I hate him, I hate me.

57

The Empty Bowl Jahmiella Abbott

some nights I cry tears of loneliness… emptiness. at night I dream terrible dreams that causes me to wake up with a snotty nose and a cold sweat.

I call out to my Lord because I need him and yet I still feel...

I’m selfish because of my desire to be desired by a brother that lives within my fantasy but in reality I cannot find.., Ii shall not want. lonely nights like these are what keep me up with memories and unanswered questions and emotions that leave my mind blank and congested all at once.

The Other Victim Katy Harlan

I’m “that girl’s” best friend I’m the one who never knew Never heard a word of sorrow Always saw the smile Always heard the “I’m okay” I’m the one that died that day Never to see the smile again Always stuck with the image Always left with the sound of life breaking I’m “that girl’s” best friend I’m the other victim 58

Diana Castillo

The War Cyrus Gray

Woke up in a strange cloud of broke reality--Hearts fell around me-Battle sounds surrounded me-& I see you from afarpreparing to fire at me & I wish my inhibition would kick in and take me away from this vision Now were here holding our missiles and hand guns & all I’m thinking isThis wasn’t in my plans for her-I had plans for us-But now seeing each other is strange for us & I catch myself looking for a you in her & what’s worse-I never get another a chance to make it work this war is killing me-Now I love you and hate you at the same time-& at the same time I’m pushing to withdraw from the feelings in the past that I invested in you & I can’t decide whether to bomb this Lotus Flower or stop repressing you-I know this feeling won’t last forever but this battle wounds me again-& you againmy once special friend-& yea wounds heal over time but war stories are never forgotten by the veterans--It feels like more effort has been into this war then the development of finding solutions to be one once more-I want to be at peace with you but I don’t want to settle for just a piece of you--When the war is doneWe fight-We blast-We’ve lost what’s left of the past-The death of a Gentlemen and his once special friend-Now I’m scared to lose love-but even more afraid to love again--59

The Child Who Says Thank You Lyvia Alvarez

The child who says thank you Japan disaster.

My heart aches My soul weeps Water has wrapped around Japan with its iron grasp.

Water watches people’s souls go high above the water and wreckage in to sanctuary.

Grandmas Grandpas Moms Dads Daughters Sons Sisters Brothers Friends Neighbors The woman who gives you back your change which you had just dropped, The man who opens the door for you, The child who says thank you.....gone.....no longer in your life.

Loved ones hold up the few pictures they have left, and ask “Have you seen them?”

Scared to dare think that they may be gone, that they will never hold, kiss, smell, or see their smiling faces again.

The world lately is angry with us...polluting its clean waters with our garbage and filth Cutting down its oxygen providing trees....

Is this our punishment?

Those people don’t deserve what the world gave......

But the world has given us so much?!

Is it taking back what we have polluted?

There is no explanation for why them and not us or even why us....

But know this.... We are all connected and not even death will sever those connections if we let it Their hearts ache Their souls weep Water has wrapped around their home with its iron grasp.....

60

Mustafa Zakir

Lyvia Alvarez

61

An Interesting Question?

Tim Szafran

“Help, help save me!” cried the victim as the water rushed over her face, threatening her with a liquid tomb.

“I haven’t done anything to deserve this and I didn’t know it was coming. This isn’t my fault.”

“Kick and pull for the surface!” a voice yelled from a distance.

“What, who’s there”, she questioned, “Why should I listen to you?”

“I know what I’m taking about just do it! Pull with one arm and then kick with one leg, then do it again with the other” the voice shouted, still too far off.

“I’m confused, what makes you so sure that will work?” the victim cried.

“I’ve done this a million times before and I’ve shown others how to do it successfully. You’re going to have to trust me, now pull!” The voice was getting frustrated with the victim.

“I’m lifting my arm, but nothing is happening; this is too hard” cried the victim.

“You have to lift your arm, rotate it into the water, push the water away and then kick your feet to propel you forward.” The voice is now annoyed with the victim, but other voices soon join in from the shoreline,

“You can do it, it’s easy, all you have to do is try, don’t give up!”

“You don’t know me, where I come from my family never does things like this, it hurts, I’m exhausted, I look funny to other people when I do this and I’ve been working too hard…” the victim is weakening as well.

“You can do it if you would just try! Your family will be proud that they have someone that can do this so that you can teach them. Why do you care what others think? You’re the one drowning!” call the voices from the shore, now furiously yelling and motioning to the victim.

“If you could just throw me a life line, pull me up just a little so that I can get to shore” pleads the victim.

“I am throwing you a life line, I have told you how to swim, I have spent my time and effort to give you a chance; you have to do the work yourself in order to survive” cries the original voice through the crashing waves, “make the choice, sink or swim; I’ve done all I can for you!”

As the victim sinks and is enveloped in the waves, the bell rings, they arise from their desk and wash out into the hallway.

Athletic and Smart Sjadon Britton

You don’t see your abilities you have been given.

Not playing at your full potential just because of other peoples opinion .

Screaming “you don’t care” but deep down inside I know your listening.

You can be great but you have to believe.

Dream big and work to achieve Because you can do great things I believe strongly in you My QB.

62

About That Life Taylor Jones-Edwards

Just because your feet fits perfectly in those tall clear heels and you took 5 years of dance and 2 years of yoga, does not make you about that life and just because you hate that you love you have to pretend that your having so much fun going up and down and sliding all around “oh look at all my money on the ground” does not prove that you are about that life and just because your 18 year old boyfriend when you where 14 screwed you out of your childhood and you birthed a beautiful baby girl -Mckenzie Doe does not make you about that life and just because your father was never around to hold you and tell you you’re a princess like Tiana and someday your prince charming will be waiting for you in your adult hood-

Sandra Cahee

let alone he loves youdoes not mean you have to be about that life and just because you never had that girlfriend around that you could talk to when the conversation would be akward to have with your mom does not prove, does not make nor justify you’re about that life…..

But… you are beautiful and you’re somebody’s princess and it is true… your prince charming is waiting for youyou can do it- you can trade your tall clear heals for your glass slippers and what once made you weak can now make you strong and you are about that life……..

63

Again

Sanderryo Hamilton Here I am again, against all odds One against many, praying for an even playing field.

Pain builds, and is relieved with silent walks But with open eyes you see that even silence talks.

Willed by faith, pushed back by lies Set free by truth, while concealed by pride So again I wonder where the true me hides.

Dreaming of being awake and waking to work for dreams, Deceived by evil that walks on the good team.

Am I sleep-walking through a nightmare?

Because again I fight enemies who don’t fight fair.

Here I am again, looking upon the world with eyes so clear, Guiding the blind man and whispering to ears that don’t hear.

Standing out like black and grey in a rainbow Refusing to fit in because to fit in, I would have to grow smaller, Fighting to keep faith like food and water, On the chase for light again as my days grow darker.

Mistakes are Common, And ignorance is befriended by the prettiest of covers, And more often by undiscovered Authors, But Insight comes before discovery; Though the things in need of discovery are never In Sight, Feeding off of Beef, but refusing to be devoured, Empowered by Love, Deceived by Trust, And the feelings and attention I received by Lust, But I stay strong because I believe I must, And I’m Steel walking forward until my Levis RUST, But again I just wonder why we live unjust.

64

I do more than speak for myself, I speak for the Man who puts love over Wealth And it comes in amounts that are bad for the health, For the ones who are lost and are asking for help But they just can’t stay up like the Pants with no Belts…

But still we hold on, I call it sagging, Holding my pants while the heart in my chest is dragging, Struggling to survive while the next man is bragging, Now some men don’t love because their heart’s out of Passion.

It’s a shame because now Love is out of Fashion, And Good’s going Out to let bags of the Bad In, It’s a Bad end, Putting our trust in bad friends, Standing by the door, refusing to let drags in, Ignoring the Good girl and only going for the Bad twins, Because Pride takes us High but ends with a Crash Landing, So keep stacking chips until money flips, then cash In. The scale of good and bad is being over tipped As reality is coming to the reading of a script, And love is like a wet floor, you fall because you slipped, And you didn’t read the sign so you have nothing to support The force of impact, so in the end, everything but your heart Is Intact…

We make mistakes, and lose things we never get back, But life is what you make it…You could make Again a trend Or you can take a step forward…And look back, but still leave The past where it’s at…

Confusing Dream Deairo Douglas

Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat?

Clinching your eyes together because of the warms Salty water dripping from your forhead into your eyes?

Breathing hard and extremely confused At which the nightmare within your dreams that contained no mosters, no death, no wrong doings, But the mere view of your life from the distance?

My dreams of me being born, out of my mother’s womb, Being placed into her hands, but oh so tragic.

I slip from her warmth and fall into the abyss that is my night mare.

AS I start to get scared and more frantic, I call for help but as an infant no one understands, While I scream as if there were anyone around to hear me cry anyway.

It starts to get col as my body grows bigger and everything gets dark around me, I am engulfed with heat as I watched my whole life pass me by, From watching myself in the tigger outfit at a Halloween party when I was three, Past when I was getting jumped after school every day, Past when I got caught stealing my little brothers lunch money in 5th grade, To the point where I am attending this competition.

I have calmed down by now and watch myself grow older but when the dreams narrows down to my life as it is now, My dreams wonder what it would be like to die tomorrow.

Now I stand before god, awaiting my eternal fate,

Lexie Mayfield

And just as he’s about to give his decision, Heaven or hell, I awake in another cold sweat Once more from a Confusing dream.

65

At Night

by Jada Walker At night the nightbirds with their long moon beam wings streak past my window. Daylight, you are still sleeping, your eye lids closed like pages of parchment, your shine snuffed to ashes. While you are sleeping, I am half dreaming.

My eyes open. and close.

I am lying in my bed-room or am I? The perimeters of cabinet and closet are smudged by eraser Lucid night visions mesh with concrete walls.

It is past twilight but before you have risen in your bleached robes.

In that moment of midnight blue the nightbirdscome their eyes as lush as dew their wings as soft as the inside of slippers And they sing to me, while you are still sleeping.

Voices whisper like the plink of icicles.

Voices sing like the clatter of trumpets.

Their music lures me past dreams. and I wake up run to my window search for the jewels of their eyes in the empty night.

There is no word to define these birds.

They are neither sparrow nor hawk, but only velvety black.

Morning, you draw me out of bed with your charred, searching fingers slap light on my face and wash away the night, scrubbing each cloudy surface till it gleams crisply and I can see the edges of things.

You tell me that birds don’t sing in the night.

You’ve only heard the fierce songs of the morning birds.

You tell me that I’m dreaming 66

Independence Brandon Harrison

I’ve been born with talent in my blood stream but over the years I’ve been inserted with ambition. I guess I’ve been lost cause now I’m realizing that I’m my own intuition, dream of being a rapper. But I need another place I can also show my precision, I’m staring at the world with this brand new vision. I can be something

like a doctor so hand me my scalpal and watch as I perfect my incision, so as I move these tendons the ones at attendance can all stand at attention. Verbally you have to feel the message I’m sending, trying to be independent.

Kristina Jenkins

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Bittersweet Ledis Santos

Life is good Life is hard.

We live then we die We run then we trip We love but then we hate.

We try to wake up But then the dream held’s up back Life is good when you have a home When you got what to eat Life is good when you have somewhere to go Life is good when you hope When you love When you’re loved, Life is bad when your home is the street When all you eat is the crumbs from your master’s plate When all you do is wonder around trying to find a way.

Life is bad when you blame and condemn yourself to what you don’t want to be Life is bad when you hate Life is bad when you’re the one being hated Life is good Life is hard

Building Blocks Sanderryo Hamilton

I sit quietly in the chair on the Throne of Education.

My eyes straight forward, ears open, listening.

She speaks words of tomorrow, I hold her teachings like a mother holds a child, Never has someone cared so much for my future, Even I lack such insight upon the past and future.

Her words are building blocks that construct a masterpiece, As the blocks stack higher and the building begins to take form My vision become clearer, my heart becomes stronger, and my mind expands.

I thank God for creating such a person of wisdom to share upon me.

Her Badge holds her name, but symbolizes much more than her job.

How I wish our time together could be endless.

I envy the morals that come with her title and her being.

As I sit back upon the throne and listen to her teachings, I am astounded by the knowledge they hold.

With her teachings I share legends that are unheard by my family, I dream and gain the power to sleepwalk.

Wow! How amazing the words are that escape from her tongue and take refuge in my brain!

Her words build me high and her ways give my masterpiece definition…

Teacher, such a strange title that understates her importance to society…

The Constructor seems much more suitable.

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Anthony Escalante

I’m Just Saying Briana Heard

“I’m just saying”- Briana heard Face the facts, you can’t take it You’re obviously jealous that I just made it.

My score eliminated everyone’s, The work I put in-effortless I hate to be cocky, but you can give it a rest.

You really had no point of trying I guess I took you by surprise.

How could you miss such an easy shot?

Next time try widening eyes.

I’m just as shocked as you, You must’ve thought my game was over.

I suggest you break the news to your family Cause every second is making the minute older.

I give you your props trying to show me out though, I got a favor, want to be my fan?

We can celebrate this victory in unison-hand in hand.

What’d you say, you don’t agree?

Oh its okay, I can dance by myself.

I’ve already won and you still don’t believe me You didn’t hear I tend with no help?

Only God was there beside me When no other was in sight, It’s like he took control of my body, That’s how I knew I would be alright.

I’ll chill out and stop for good, Just sit back, and relax.

You thought you had me running Ive already won, Just face the facts.

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Two Brown Eyes Alexandra Acuna

I watch the world pass two brown eyes look through clean clear glass I see progress from what we had in the past but are we really changing Have we done all the work? Or are we still debating Young, ignorant souls can’t come to rest not knowing what’s for their best They venture out into the world Trying to express – Impress- More or less -Giving their reasons Don’t all humans change like seasons?

Don’t we all fall like leaves? And isn’t it a possibility that some don’t believe they simply retrieve And give up They feel there’s nothing in it for them So why care? they really can’t decide whether they should tell the world about their emotions Or whether they should run away and just hide Because running helps you solve it.

Running makes it better But hiding from it ain’t gonna change the weather It’s not gonna change the skies Because often -sometimes your favorite hero dies so there nothing to save you They’re not there to give you a hug so you need to Step to the plate Show off who you really are in my two brown eyes Baby you’re a star.

Don’t Underestimate It Kirillos Nashed

The color is dead, it flew away The bumper is crackled and bent When you crank it, the sound it makes The amazing blaze that comes from the pipe The wind breathes into it Anyone would want it and everyone would adore it When you see it on the road it’s like a bullet When you full throttle it When you press on the brakes you let go of the brakes then turns to cruise mode she’s back back again Don’t under estimate it get inside and see It’s like if you were meeting a girl got to see what’s inside first Don’t under estimate the body the color Look beyond what you see

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When you’re in it you feel feel like you want to throw it in the best corner It’s like riding the best rollercoaster ever When you’re in it your life forever makes you feel amazing Don’t under estimate it When you’re alone at home crying you get in it and it makes you fall in love with it You just got to keep driving just keep driving

Red

Diana Castillo

Chelsea Dodd When I walk through the door, most people don’t take me too seriously. Maybe it’s the bright red hair, or maybe it’s the clothing I choose to wear. Either way, almost every adult on the planet makes the same face at me when I walk in. I’m a “rebel.” I shout, “Down with Government! Anarchy!” I’d like to “stick it” to the “establishment,” and I don’t mess with anything mainstream. I diss “scene” kids, “Hipsters,” “metal heads,” and “Goths.” Nothing and no one can satiate me. Well, that’s what they think.

I have dreams, too. I have desires and wishes, and they’re all completely normal, too. I want to be a chef; I want to have a family. I want to go to college. I’m just like everybody else. I don’t believe in Anarchy or biological warfare (or physical or chemical, for that matter). I don’t believe in “sticking it” to “the man,” or in the rise of Satan. I’m as normal as anyone who has ever been my age, and people don’t understand that.

Naturally, I’ve made mistakes, but who hasn’t? Like they – whoever “they” are – say: “I’m only human. I’m not an alien. I’m just a girl. I want a job, a car, and all A’s as badly as the next girl,” but all people see is “that hair color” or “those GIANT holes in your ears!” (Which aren’t even that

big.) I can’ apply for a real job without people thinking I’m a waste of human flesh. Everywhere I go, I stare judgment in the face, and 99% of the time, it’s misinformation or a stereotype.

I’m a good kid: I take care of my siblings, I have a dog and a fish, I even apply to colleges. That hair of mine, though. To people my own age, I’m an “innovator.” To people who see me in the streets, or to people who hand me a job application, or even to teachers when I first enter their classroom, my appearance spells out “trouble.” The truth is, though, I’m none of the above. I’m a student, a cook, a daughter. And that’s what matters.

To me, this judgment doesn’t make sense. I’m quiet and smart. I like to laugh, and I love my friends. I can be more selfless and tender hearted than anyone you’ve ever met. I’m faithful to my boyfriend, and I like to work out, and pop music is one of my favorites. I know I’m not the only one out there that feels like this, and I’m sure those who give people like me chances are glad they do it. Next time you see a girl with unnaturally red hair, smile at her. It could be the smartest thing you’ll ever do.

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Creativity Peyton Osuobeni

welcome to my world of poetry here and an immense amount of distinct people accompany me and they contribute to the reasoning of my storytelling so therefore I would like for you to understand why I write, while knowing who I write for I write for my friend who sits in the back of class with her make-up brushes and bag because she fails to understand the beauty that has been present within her expanse I write for the boy who is to afraid to stray away from the path set for his homeboys and not for him I write for those who are called “special-ed” without knowing the meaning of special I write for those who walk with a bowed head and lowered eyes carrying thoughts of suicide giving numerous warning signs but they go unnoticed every time just like everyone I described so therefore, I have no other choice but to write for those who allow me to be there voice because, they have yet to discover how precious there’s is for them I write, those who we fail to catch in our eyes because our tweets become more important than the air we breathe, aye, follow me at... oh, you want me to follow you I’m sorry, but I’m too busy giving a crap like we all used to why do I write it’s called doing what I have to, to survive, let’s call this Poetic Justice this artistic ability God had implanted in me it is my life it seems as if it is the only thing I can do right it’s like Nia Long falling in love to the words of Brother to the Night, let’s call this Love Jones this incomparable love I feel for the power of words is why I write because poetry pulls out all of my might every time I step to the mike while saving my life poetry brings out the best of me and all that is left of me while at the same time testing me but without a doubt I believe this is my destiny so for that reason I write and for the girl sitting in the back of this very room listening to everything I’ve had to say and is thinking dang Peyton I feel the same way 72

Decarrio’s Lyric Decarrio Turner

Beautiful girl, was so lyrical when she spoke When she spoke it was either off the top of the dome Or through the stokes of her pen when she would write me in her letters Little did she know I was so afraid to approach her Didn’t know if I should spit a little rhythm to her like ll cool j I need love Or hit her with that Roses are red, violets are blue I’m so glad to meet you Naw I can’t do that cause she would just think of me as a fool See she was so cool with other people Friendly you can say Everyone had something to say about her I was jealous But I had to get my swagger back I had lost track on what I was doing So my train of thought I gained it back Approach this women with that sweet touch Told her lets join a club And you know her so cute and all told me Sure why not People started to see me and this girl become so close And they thought it was cute that I had started talking to her My Parents liked her a lot even made my mom smile So I knew right then and there she was a keeper I can tell she was feeling me too I was so new to this relationship thing But she told me we’ll stay together longest I stay faithful and true I knew this was strange I fell in love so quick In this special and this hopeless place called school I love hanging with her I told her about my dad and how we grew apart and she surely understood where I was coming from See i knew this was real cause when we spoke, we just flowed together like that I felt a certain way that I had to let her know how I felt So just chilling in the library I took her hand and looked her straight in the eyes Told her “Poetry I love you with all my heart”

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I Am What I Am Kaitlin Woods

I am a believer I know my thoughts can be reality I also know I can’t give up I would climb the tallest mountain I will take my time I am a dreamer I keep on trying I won’t let you pull me down I speak the truth I hear people complaining

I am enthusiastic I am mischievous I am a dark cloud I am a summer’s breeze Life is an open book I will paint the world I will not stop I am a kaleidoscope I am a pair of brown eyes I see the world through a different view I am what I am

Exciting Easter Rechanne Waddell

“Okay class, turn to three hundred in your notebooks,” announced Ms. Apple. “Uhhhh,” moaned Izzy.

“Another wonderful lesson taught by the enthusiastic Ms. Apple,” said Izzy. “Hey! Instead of staying in this boring classroom and learning about Easter Island, we should go there instead. Besides, I want to get a jump start on my Easter egg collecting.” “How do you suppose we get to Easter Island,” asked Alicia. “I was hoping my best, kindest, and smartest friend would bring us. Did I mention that you are the best?” said Izzy.

“Okay, I get the point. We can go to Easter Island,” responded Alicia,” “Uh-oh. Look who is coming this way,” said Izzy looking at a uniformed boy. “Excuse me ladies, but did I just hear that you are going to skip Ms. Apple’s interesting lesson,” asked Fredrick. “You heard correctly,” replied Izzy. “Well if you’re going to skip Ms. Apple’s lesson, then I am coming too,” replied Fredrick. “I don’t remember giving you an invitation,” snapped Alicia. “Well if I can’t come, I will just have to tell sweet Ms. Apple that you’re ditching her class,” said Fredrick slyly.

“Alicia, why did you bring him,” exclaimed Izzy while dragging her sneakers along the ground. “His stomach has been growling for the past twelve min74

utes, and I still haven’t found any Easter eggs. This trip stinks,” pouted Izzy. “I second that. Twelve minutes on Easter Bunny Island and a boy can’t find decent food.

I am going to look for something to eat,” said Fredrick while heading further into the jungle. “Wait,” exclaimed the two girls in unison while trailing behind Fredrick. “Wow! Look at that,” said Fredrick with his attention on a buffet table covered with tropical fruit.

As Fredrick reached for a mango his arm was grasped by an unfriendly native. “We will feast tonight,” said the native as many more surrounded the group of three.

“Boil the boy first, he will provide us with more meat,” said the native king as the girls were tied to a stake. “Alicia take us back to Ms. Apple’s class now,” yelled Fredrick while being dragged off by hungry natives. “I’m trying but my necklace won’t glow,” responded Alicia. “Grab the big mouthed girl, she will be the appetizer.” “Alicia,” screamed Izzy. “I got it glowing! Hang on.”

“As you can see class, the Easter Island natives were a very peaceful people,” said Ms. Apple. “They weren’t too peaceful when they tried to boil me alive,” said Fredrick.

Good to See You Again Jarad Davis

Yo, what’s good!

I haven’t seen you in a minute.

I still remember when we first met. It feels just like yesterday.

It was a cool black night, a cool black moon.

There was just something about you.

The way you spoke. The way you moved.

It was love at first sight.

So I asked about your background.

Tell me what your interest are. Who you be with?

You told me you were mutt.

A beautiful mix of black and latino...

And I was like “What’” Born and raised in the boogie down Bronx, there was a certain power you had.

You spoke with authority but so creatively. You displayed your conscious but so entertaingly.

You told me that if I really put my mind to it, I too, could fight the powers that be.

But then something changed.

You did say you didn’t want to be pushed because you were close to the edge.

But I didn’t think you’d take it this far.

You nearly lost your head.

Because at one time you were about change, but now all you’re about is change.

You used to not care what ppl thought about you, but now you have to be seen driving your Range.

It used to be all about the U-N-I-T-Y But now it’s about the power of the P-U-...excuse me. We have children in here.

But I don’t totally blame you.

I mean, the money came real quick.

But I wish you would go back to your foundation.

Back to what’s organic.

But don’t get me wrong.

I still love you and I see your potential to grow.

But come here. Let me whisper something to you.

To get attention...you don’t have to drop it to the floor.

Going to the club, poppin bottles, making it rain.

You’ve influenced millions of ppl to glorify something they can never attain.

But I’m not here to nitpick.

I’m not they type of man.

But, yo, I gotta bounce.

Hip-Hop, it was good to see you again.

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Imagination Joey Olson

…As raw power surges through my body raising it to an ungodly level, I let out a roar that shakes the very earth for miles around. Slowly my left hand and right arm begin to lift as my aura rages like an unchecked wildfire, slowly lifting objects and the earth itself all around me as if it were mere child’s play…

The raging aura around me has blackened my whole body as it rages further, five times the size it was. My head lifts, and all you can see is the white eyes that burn your soul by a mere gaze. You cry out my name. It echoes. Your supreme act of true devotion could bring

a tear to any person’s eyes, yet to my ears, sounds only like a scream of uncertainty and fear toward me. This brings my aura to rage into the form of a primal, angry beast, blocking out the sun and consuming my body…

As my aura outlines the giant fiendish body, it stares down my enemies, to fulfill my selfish wish to have them obliterated. And the gigantic fiend that blocks the sun, casting a great shadow, fulfills my wish by creating lesser forms of itself, slaughtering all the bastards that thought it was okay to do as they willed to me…

Imagination is a wonderful thing…

Life’s Author

One Sky

Luisa Martinez

The author of your life is you You wrote your past Your editing your future And creating your present as you go.

But remember there’s and hour glass That you can not pass So live to the fullest without regrets To have a happy ending To your story of life.

Anthony Escalante We always pray for our sorrows to end hope that our hearts will blend.

Now I will step forward to realize this wish… who knows?

Starting a new journey may not be so hardmaybe it has already begun.

There are many worldsthey share the same sky.

One sky One Destiny

Life

Jenifer Iraheta Life is what you make of it, well at least that’s what everyone says.

So why can’t my life be what I want to make of it?

Why do others have so much effect on it?

It’s my life! Life?

It’s only a 4-letter word yet those four words have such a significant meaning such a blessing to have.

Such a journey, where everyday is different and everyday a new adventure.

So life? My life? It’s going to be what I want, my journey, my life.

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Me

Victoria N.Thomas I am a picture, a painting of many words Some of which you never heard And never will bear witness to The pain and hurt that I’ve been through.

Never worried of who felt my pain because only God knew And pulled me through my thoughts of suicide As my subconscious and conscious mine continuously collide Everything I loved and valued rolled out with the morning tide But as always I continued to stride.

See I am the microscopic one Understanding me will be magnifying your glass times 1,000,001 Now you see my work is never done I am a diamond in the rough Some may say I think I’m tough And I tell them There is a difference in being tough and having strength I am a Lady of Strength and never meant To show you any other mask Clarity is not needed because without outside motivation I continue to last And when all the trails and tribulations come to past I have held fast To my values, goals, and lessons learned Everything I have now I am proud to say I earned Not alone because GOD made me and broke the mold Not too many can follow my footsteps and continue to have this heart of Gold I am the friend, helping big sister, dependable big brother, embracing mother and father for anyone who needs I am the underestimated, yet determined young lady, I am the one that believes I can be whatever I love, hope, and desire to be I am the secret to all best kept I am me!

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My Life

Travis Watson I remember waking shaking and wondering why..

I just remembered- my mom and my dad died it was thundering out side no I did not cry I felt it on the inside its not like my life was worth growing up I remember seeing my mom in the rest room throwing up all them drugs killing her self I was like mom stop it cause u are killing your self then 2 days later she died I was right by her side then I got word that my dad had just died so the only question I had to ask was why life was already hard but then I soon realize t I was shouting out at the sky I was just ready to give up and die I heard a voice telling me to give it another try I was like ok but this is my last time then after all these years of living in the darkness I finally seen the sun shine then I knew it was time for me to get up and get on my grind because this is my race and I was behind it was time to let the world know I was coming for what was mine I went from being 3 years behind in school to graduating with my class in June I went from people telling me I can’t make it to District Champ Now- don’t you tell me when life knocks you down you can’t make it that was a risk I had no choice but to take it with that being said that puts me in first place

The Eyes of a Dropout Kaitlyn Cowan

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Looking at the streets so empty and bare Just reminded me of the pain and despair.

I see a young girl at the corner while she waits for a car to pull up but that’s not her date.

Then she stepped into that car all nicely dressed But will come back tomorrow even more depressed.

She does it every Friday and all the next day As a high school dropout there’s a price to pay.

Selling herself is the only thing left to do It just breaks my heart if only she knew.

If she could look into my past and what I’ve been through Then she’d be free at last and make her dreams come true.

Roaring Sea Kenny Bufford

Tell me that life is not like a roaring sea And I am the ship, and oh Lord how the waves beat on me Being tossed and turned, Getting but in terrible situation Of ten time I never saw it coming Getting thrown in to the link of fire By the ones I thought I could trust Greed like a horrible thing like drugs Because so many people misuse Not having any regard of who they hurt on the way Still I try and find safety in a world that’s very cold Tell me something, im starting to lose hope Mixed up in predicaments that had me bound down Everyone I see, so I scream for help But I am trapped in a realm full of darkness And no one can hear a sound.

Dance

Kayla Sainer My escape.

My one and only thing.

My freedom.

The cold air under my feet and the loud pounding bass of the music gives me such a rush. I never want to let that go!

When I get out on that icy tile floor nothing can stop me.

As I walk on I can feel every crack and dent in the freezing floor.

My music is on and my mind goes blank, but it’s like I just know what to do next.

I paint a picture for everyone to see, I try to get them to understand my story.

The reason I am dancing to this song. I try to explain me. My life.

All the graceful movements are like my writing and the song is my words I write in my sweet little black book.

I have a strong passion for dance! It is the main part of me. It is my world.

While I am dancing I can see the floor glow for where I should be next.

My passion gets stronger and stronger everyday.

Dance.

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Lacrimae Rerum Mitch Thomas

Our conversation today much the same as before, (has it been ten years?)

You, the historian, talk about the particular and the time bound (it is good to be rooted in the Earth).

I, suffering from a philosophical bent, try making sense of it.

For, however inconvenient, there must be one meaning if rooted-ness is indeed good.

You have always made your points well.

I, nod in agreement, making clumsy remarks searching for the whole to arrange these particulars.

I have always needed time to sort my thoughts.

I have been thinking of Leesville.

Your passion telling their story of the cemetery now submerged awakened in my mind an observation from Virgil: Lacrimae Rerum or the “tears in things”.

I agree that the story must be told- man must have stories to tellBut consider the following: Particular places and particular people can make no real claim to uniqueness can they?

Consider the innumerable places and people, which have receded into irrevocable anonymity.

How to answer those who make the decisions that effect the rest of us, seeing your concern as a touching farce?

The pragmatic man’s appraisal of the concern goes: “I see. We both agree nothing lasts.

Time is a jealous lover. Particularity, to Time’s full embrace, inevitably yields, the fruit of this consummation being oblivion.

Nevertheless, you say we should remember them As long as we can, knowing all the while a funeral, a fire, or a mistaken swipe of the keyboard will condemn them to non-existence.

What is the point again?”

We must admit a certain forcefulness to their argument.

Remember and preserve. But who, what, and how?

We can barely manage the time at hand.

So much of the living present is unknown to us How much more the past that now lies dead!

Lacrimae RerumThe passing nature of people and places reveal the seed of melancholy within them.

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Before a yawning abyss of forgetfulness, with tragic futility we strive to to retrieve them.

Incontrovertible, admittedly, nevertheless, the story must be told.

A Unifying Whole must exist to give the memory of particulars an end to live toward.

Otherwise, the we and the life held dear, is condemned to that of a enigma wandering between two question marks.

Take the carving of the Last Supper started but unfinished. It is, as you say, a farewell of sorts.

I agree, with an added observation: It is to show human weakness before an indefatigable flux (some things we cannot finish).

But it is also sign of hope for able eyes.

For, my friend, this scene was completed with hands like, but stronger than our own.

Through weakness or choice, particulars Fade from our consciousness.

But there is a Consciousness where all forgotten events and the nameless dead find their confirmation.

And before the cynic’s mockery of every story, the two sides of which abolishes validity, I say tell your story.

And hope! A Voice will tell this and all stories with a purifying accuracy requiring neither the elimination of Justice and Mercy nor their opposition.

Our world is a transient one In all that we are and all that we love there is an indwelling of tears.

The tears we weep fall upon an ambivalent Earth and are forgotten.

And yet my friend hope.

Amid this reservoir of tears, noted to have soaked the earth from crust to core, are the tears of One who wept also, even unto the shedding of blood.

Patricia Pineda

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Wasted Talent Abernequa Walker

Too many times, people with promising bright futures, have thrown away god given talents over foolishness.

A night out, having fun, knowing what they’re doing is wrong.

A future wasted‌ Was it worth it?

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Jazmine Burton

The Fear of Being Me Citlalin Ossio

Sometimes I’m afraid of being me…

I’m afraid of giving all my effort to be rewarded only with failure.

I’m afraid of being my best and still not being good enough.

I’m afraid of not being THE best.

I’m afraid of knowing my limit and no matter how hard I try never surpassing it.

I’m afraid of finding out that I’m worth nothing, that I AM nothing.

I’m afraid of looking in the mirror and seeing no one.

But most of all I’m afraid of becoming a black hole, the nuisance of the universe, that sucks life and destroys it.

I’m afraid of becoming the obstacle that gets in others’ ways.

I’m afraid of being the problem without a solution.

These are the fears I live with everyday.

Time

Jahmiella Abbott time is an ever running clock. it goes on with or without you. alike the gorgeous waterfalls overflowing with water never running dry. both continuously working never getting tired, buy slowing dying. me, I take my time and use it wisely. for my time will come...soon 83

Rosestiltskin Lyvia Alvarez

There once was a poor plumber, and his beautiful daughter. His wife had died long ago and he had fallen into a deep depression.

The daughter tried everything to cheer up her father but nothing seemed to work. One thing that seemed to help was that he showed off his beautiful daughter to everyone who had eyes and ears in the town square.

One day was not the exception; he took his daughter to the town square and bragged about her skills in the kitchen, her skills with musical interments, and much more. When a man from the court house started bragging about his daughter the plumber didn’t know what to do. So he made up a lie that is so impossible the other man couldn’t match up to its potential.

“MY DAUGHTER CAN MAKE ROCK INTO GOLD!” he shouted.

Everyone turned their heads in awe.

Since the economy has been going down the toilet people have been searching for a way to make up for all their lost money. Soon everyone wanted a piece of the girl who can make rock into gold.

“Give her to me!” “I must have that girl!” People clawed at the man ripping his clothes and scratching at his face. They shouted and greed filled their hearts.

“Enough!” Everyone stopped and turned to see who the voice was connected to.

A very successful….handsome, business man maneuvered his way through the crowd.

“What seems to be the problem here?” he said calmly.

“HIS DAUGHTER CAN MAKE ROCK INTO GOLD.” Someone in the crowd shouted.

This intrigued the man’s interest. “Really?” he said as he helped the daughter up off the ground.

She stayed quiet and let the man lead her and her father into a large office building. At the very top floor the business man put the daughter in a room filled with rocks.

“You will stay here all night and in the morning all of these rocks will be gold…if your father was lying I will force you and your father into poverty.” He whispered in her ear.

Once he shut the door she started to cry. They were already struggling to make ends meet, how was she going to do this?

The door suddenly opened and an old man hobbled into the room. He wore a janitor’s uniform, but a twinkle in his eye suggested otherwise. His thin white hair gleamed.

“What seems to be the problem, young Miss?” his voice was like two rocks grinding together.

“I can’t possibly turn rock into gold! But we can’t live on the street.” she began crying once again.

“Well it so happens I can turn rock into gold.” he gloated. “I can do you this favor in exchange for something.”

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“Anything! I, I, I can give you my necklace?!” She tore it off her neck and handed it to him.

She watched in amazement as he took a rock, pressed slightly with both hands and opened it to reveal a pure gold piece.

He continued like that all night as she slept.

In the morning she awoke to find the old man gone and the business man wide eyed looking around the room.

For a moment greed filled the man. He then took the daughter into an even bigger room filled with even more rocks.

He left her once more and once more her eyes overflowed with sad tears.

The old man hobbled into the room and said “I can do you this favor in exchange for something.”

“I can give you my ring?” she said sadly.

He took the ring and put it on his finger. She then noticed that around his neck was her necklace.

He then began his magic as she slept.

She awoke that morning to the sound of the business man’s laughter.

He took her again into a room filled with rocks this time before he left he said “If you fill this room with gold I will give you the pleasure to be my wife.”

He left and again she started to cry.

The old man hobbled into the room but this time she cried out “I have nothing to give you!”

“Then promise me this…once the business man and you marry, you shall give me your first child.” He said.

She reluctantly agreed and the old man set to work while she slept.

In the morning the business man and the daughter were married.

For one year they lived happily and in luxury…with their one year old daughter.

The old man hobbled into the room “Give me what you promised.”

She was shocked she hadn’t thought of the old man in years.

Her husband was nowhere to be seen, so she pleaded with him, begging to let her keep the child.

He then thought of something very clever and said “I like games; if you can guess my name I will let you keep your child…”

She nodded her head and was relived at the chance.

The next day when the old man came to see if she had guessed his name he was shocked to see that, she and the baby, were gone.

16 years later.

The business man was sad and thought that his wife and child were dead. After years had past after the disappearance, he remarried and had another child…a baby boy. Their life continued with-

out them…

The woman had moved to a faraway place where she and her daughter grew up, and older. The baby girl was now 17 years of age, and the woman had grown just shy of deep wrinkles. The daughter was more beautiful than the mother ever was, and grew up with stories of a girl, and an old man who turned rock into gold.

This is my family’s story. I am the daughter of the business man and the plumber’s daughter.

It was like any other day when I was walking home from school but when the air changed I topped in my tracks. The forest on either side of me was still. A young guy crossed my path, he was about my age, but his eyes were wise. He was handsome in his own rugged way.

I stepped to the right and he blocked my way. I stepped to the left and he was right there in front of me.

“What do you want?!” I finally ask in frustration.

“You are very beautiful.” He said in a husky voice. He toyed with the necklace around his neck and his ring around his finger gleamed in the sunlight.

I began to feel uneasy as his stare intensified.

“I have to go; my mom is waiting for me.” I lied through my teeth.

“Huh, so you live close by?” he asked.

“I’ll scream.” I threatened. He then tilted his head back and laughed.

“This must seem so sudden to you.” It wasn’t a question. “This moment has been pending for a long time, sixteen years in the making, actually.”

I didn’t want to hear any more…so I ran. I ran to the one place I felt safe, my home…my mom.

I burst through the door to find the house empty. WORK! She was at work! I grabbed the keys to the car, in the garage, and hurried to the diner.

I raced through the door and looked for my mother.

She saw me and her face went white. She led me outside and asked question after question.

“He was a teenager? And he had my necklace and ring? How was that even possible?!” She was panicking.

The gravel then began to shift and crunch underneath his boots as he came before us. He stopped 10 feet away.

My mom’s breath caught in her throat. There he was.

“Give me what you promised.” he demanded calmly.

He took a step forward and my mom was instantly in front of me.

Like lightning, his fast movement left our jaws at our ankles.

He was behind me, clutching my arm.

He was then pulling me away when I stopped him. “I hear you like games?” I say in desperation.

He smirked. “Yes.” “Three tasks and if you pass all of them I will go with you. But if you don’t…I get to stay here…with my mom.” I say.

“What are these tasks?”

We all headed to the forest and they both traveled at some distance apart.

“The first task...” I said “…go out there and find my favorite stone. In the morning if you haven’t, you leave and never comeback.”

He then suddenly came close to my face. Studying me. He smiled seeing the crimson color seep into my face.

His fingers brushed some stray hair away from my eyes, and said “ I’ll be back soon.” Then he headed into the forest.

In the morning he stood in front of me and put his outstretched hand in between us. In the palm of his hand, a pink clear-ish stone lay.

I grabbed it and put it in my pocket. His smile made my cheeks red once more. “Next task.” I say, leading him to the bottom of the mountain.

“Legend says that up in that mountain somewhere, there is a pendent without a stone…hidden. Get me that pendent. In the morning if you didn’t find it you leave and never comeback again” I say firmly.

He then suddenly came close to my face. Studying me. He smiled, seeing the crimson color seep into my face.

His fingers brushed some stray hair away from my eyes, and said “I’ll be back soon.” Then he headed up the mountain.

In the morning he came down with icicles all over his jacket and in his hair. When he stood in front of me I could feel the cold radiate off him. He then put the pendent in front of my face. I took it from him and put that in my pocket.

“Last task…” I said narrowing my eyes. “Guess my name.”

His eyes seemed to laugh as his mouth turned downward. “You have only one guess to find out my name…your only clue is that, one on the tasks is the key.” I said.

He nodded his head and put his cold hand on my face. “I’ll be back soon.”

The next day we stood face to face, the tension building in the air. “What is my name?” I asked.

He chuckled and took his time in answering “That is a trick question, you mother never gave you a name.”

I let his answer sit in the silence. “That’s not right. I do have a name.”

His face seemed unchanged a smile still on his face. “Ah, so I have lost…” He began to walk away.

I ran after him and stood in his way. His face was full of kindness and knowing. He raised his hand to my face, and if I hadn’t seen his lips move I wouldn’t have heard him whisper “Rose…”

He then lifted the pendent that was around my neck, and touched my favorite stone I had put into it. The stone was Rose Quart.

“You knew my name.” I whispered.

“Yes but you want to be with your mother.” He argued quietly.

“So you lost so I could be with her.” I said fitting the pieces together.

He didn’t answer, instead, he let go of my face and walked away into the never ending forest.

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The Mask Zakery Wright

Look into my eye’s you will see nothing Wrong Notice my smile you will think I am trustworthy But look into my soul and you will see the dark secrets I have locked away Cause this image you see before you Is a lie, A fabricated truth I have presented To the world as a gift So till the day I die I will Uphold this image of pure Cause in this world you have to fake it till you make it So don’t think you go unnoticed Because I know what’s behind your costume And I’m here t tell you Halloween is over And honest hour has just begun.

Where is that Little Girl Now? Ashley Abbs

I see the scared little girl hiding in your eyes. She wants to be saved but no one will hear her cries. She prays for freedom. She pushes and scratches, tries to run away.

He’s stronger, wiser, and faster. All she can do is cry for her daddy to save her from this nightmare.

“Why is this happening to me,” she questions herself.

He leaves satisfied while she is tortured with the memory of the pain; the feeling of her innocence being ripped out by this monster. She shivers, covered in his 86

DNA. She shakes in the shower trying to wash away the pain with her tears and the scorching hot water, but even water as hot as the sun can’t wash away her hurt, her confusion, and her anger.

As I look at her, I wanna save her from her mind, but I can’t reach that little girl in her eyes.

I can only pray for the day her eyes will be her own and not a slave held captive from the memory of that day she lost the little girl inside of her.

The Window Catherine Hayes

The window, the window where my secret lies The window, the window where I sit and cry The window, the window, the window In my eyes, in my eyes where I visualize the window, the window, where my secret lies.

I sit and reminisce on flying high above skies with birds and butterflies. A universe behind your eyes that only you can see. I try to express- I try to get my word across but it seems like I’m fading into someone who perished.

Someone like me. I stand tall to show you all who I am.

Don’t let my humor of creativity shock you to think I’m not tough.

I am the abstract.

I am the Nubian.

I didn’t just find myself. I created myself.

I created an empire so other girls and boys can stand for what they see in the window.

The window, the window where my secret lies The window, the window where I sit and cry The window, the window, the window I’ve driven my mind behind an enemy line where all they can do is break me down to the point where I decay to the ground. My inner thoughts speak through my eyesWhy? Because there’s no hope.

Let me save that little girl who’s suffering from love and acceptance. Come into my arms.

Everything is going to be ok there hope. There’s life just trust me and take a look through the window.

This is Me Johnelle Barnett

Yes this is me.

I’m everything that I inspired to be, Or better yet what I’ve become I’m this BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN. What doesn’t KILL you makes you STRONGER I’ve been living this for the longest.

I’ve made my way to the top.

At this point I won’t ever stop.

I have dreams and goals that will be attained.

This is my greatest gain.

I can’t wait till I walk across that stage, And start my new life.

I will live WITHOUT a WORRY in sight.

To be out of high school with drama and attitudes.

I’m so excited!

I just really don’t want to hide it.

As I make my way in to this society, I will make sure I do ABOVE the PROVIDED 87

Treasures of the Heart Julia Kingwell

The heart, a gilded treasure chest, Holds memories and dreams in firm caress.

Life’s big events are tucked away, Stored next to those of more subtle sway.

For though we celebrate grand, lofty things, The whispers in life more sentiment bring.

A walk in the woods, the breeze through my hair, Rain in the desert, quiet moments in prayer, Bread in the oven, the colors of spring, The warmth of a fire, being pushed on a swing, Caterpillar crawling across my palm, Choir of voices lifted in song, Catching snowflakes on the tip of my tongue, Clouds broken to herald bright rays of the sun, A cup of coffee shared with a friend, A sweet kiss goodnight at the day’s end, Laughing at nothing and laughing through tears, Sheltering embraces to comfort our fears, Each tender word, every stolen glance, Each smile given with no strings attached, Soft, warm breath against my neck, Strong, gentle hands brushing my cheek, The lingering moment my eyes beheld Man whom I love cuddling our child, And how he looked with wonder back at me, As if there were nothing more lovely to see...

Each bloom received, I touched each one And pressed them lovingly deep within; Preserved with fondness as life unfolds, Retrieved at will to nurture the soul.

Their pervasive fragrance encircles the heart, Hence radiates a treasure more grand to impart.

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Vacation From Myself Cyrus Gray

Sometimes I wish I could take a vacation form myself..

But if I do I think I would lose myself ..

But then again I sometimes wish I couldn’t be myself…

I wish I could vacation from my character & be a less thoughtful character...

Or at least vacation from my heart & my unstoppable thoughts of invincible.. sometimes I wish I could vacation from myself and be unmentionable… to be less dependable…

I sometimes wish I could escape my artistic integrity & ambitions & just be inhibited by inhibition…

I wish I could vacation from a Gentlemen & never have to feel again..

Just one vacation.

But I’m afraid I’ll want to do it again…

I wish I could vacation from responsibility & all abilities…

I wish I could vacation from knowledge & just fly away but I wish to escape the inner me that makes me have dreams of abilities to fly away…

I wish I could vacation from my intuition & imagination and be thoughtless.. selfless…

I sometimes wish I was cold..

Lifeless…

I wish I wasn’t so full of surprises…

I wish there wasn’t so much to me to see …

I wish I could vacation from myself & be an average guy But average is not what I’m meant to be…

I’ve learned I can’t get away..

I could never vacation me…

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Wasted

Zakery Wright I looked him in the eyes and thought That he could have been a star, he could have been A doctor, he could have even been the next president But for him his dreams have been to laid to rest cause He thought the world was at his feet.

But it turned out reality was the master instead.

Crushing everything about him into in the nothing more than no more.

Making him regret his decisions with every passing day, So to sooth this he puffs his pain away he puff the devils nectar With each inhale and injection he forgets who he was Letting death wheedle its way onto his back whispering sweet nothings Into his ear, while robbing him blind of his life.

Thinking that he is setting himself free, but in turn is just Pushing himself away from the truth So when you look at him you will see that his dreams only Appear to him in his sleep since he has lost the gift to see his future.

You

Ana Gallegos You’re a prodigy, an extraordinary creation, maybe

friendship I’d really like to reassure, with doubts and

one day you’ll be writing to the nation, stay strong wonder in my mind your image stays, there’s problems and positive, act just like a frame with your writing

and issues we have to face, reality is nice to no one

I’m pretty sure you’ll get to know fame, I don’t think

but it’s nice to know when things are rough you’re not

I know you, but you’re nice to figure out, I want to

standing alone, stand in ovation, with no oxidation thru

know what you feel and feel what you think, thirsty rain and snow I’m sure in time even when you’re gone for knowledge, your wisdom, let my mind take a sip, just like a treasure you are different and mature, your

90

my love will show….

Welcome Back Cyrus Gray

It’s been a while sense I spoke to you…

Sense I saw your drive…

Sense you taught me to separate the truth from the lies…

I had you for a while but we changed as time change..

Failure became an option & filled you with less options…

You got cold & dry..

Left alone to die & your mind began to trick & deceive you to not try likeits impossible to touch the sky but you knew what it meant to fly…

You were lost to me forever but I never forgot your efforts to survive & you prescribed the tactics I now understand as a young man..

But couldn’t see when I was 10.. you were lost to me back than…

But hey its nice to see!

I know you got bigger plans!

Hope this time around you stay with me until the end!

Because you gave me the purpose to have optimize thoughts like! “ if the sky is the limit there wouldn’t be foot prints on the moon” & you gave me desires and reasons to pursue dreams!

You pushed me to believe I can do anything! & you made my heart shout things like!

“I’MASHOW YOU HOW GREAT I AM!” …

I hope you understand you’re unforgettable! & with you around I can achieve the unforgettable!

The loss of you made me feel so unreal like…

I’ve reached my peak and have nothing else to deal or any purpose to speak…

But that’s not the man I am just saying..

I missed you man!

You showed me great moments are born with great opportunities you are more than a friend to me we’re family! missing you is misunderstanding me!

But you’re back now..

Congratulations you deserve the crown …

Welcome Back Ambition I knew you wouldn’t let me down

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Wonder Circus Citlalin Ossio

In a field of green grass and dancing trees there is a circus known as the Wonder Circus. The Wonder Cir-

“What time is it?” asks the Girl. The Ringmaster looks at her watch.

cus is the best, and most fantastic circus in the world.

“It’s almost one o’clock.” She says.

One day a Girl with light brown hair stumbles into the

“Well no wonder everyone is going crazy.” Says the

field. She sees the circus tent and walks toward it. As

Girl. The Ringmaster stares at the Girl with a confused

she gets closer she hears loud noises such as “boom”

expression.

and “bang”. She steps into the tent and sees an alarming

“Don’t you see? It’s lunchtime! Everyone is super

sight. Acrobatic pandas are swinging from bar to bar

hungry. Once you feed them they’ll be the best circus

and back.A dragon is flying everywhere in the tent, and

in the universe again.”The Ringmaster’s face lights up

the magical humans are fighting. Suddenly the Ring-

with joy.

master, a girl of 17 with short dark brown hair with a top hat and coattails, sees the Girl and flies to her.

“Oh my gosh! My circus is out of control. Please help me.” pleads the Ringmaster.

“Of course! You’re a genius! Wait here, I’ll be right back.” She says.

The Ringmaster takes to the skies and after a few minutes returns with stalks of bamboo for the pandas,

“Okay.” Says the Girl.

coal for the flying dragon, and 21 dishes of kimchi, a

“Thank you.”

traditional Korean side dish, for everyone else. The

Suddenly the lions free the toy dogs and the toy dogs Ringmaster calls on everyone and they rush to the food. chase the gold and silver fairies.

While they are eating all is calm again, the only sounds

“Oh my gosh!” yells the Ringmaster.

heard are of the performers munching and their occa-

She tries to catch them but they are too quick for her.

sional chattering. The Ringmaster returns to the Girl.

The Girl looks around and sees a bag of batteries. She takes the bag and chases after the toy dogs. She whis-

“Wow, thank you so much!”The Ringmaster gives the Girl a gigantic hug.

tles to get their attention and shakes the bag. Once the

“You’re welcome.” The Girl says laughing.The

toy dogs see the bag they run toward the Girl. She runs

Ringmaster takes out two more plates of kimchi from

to their cage and puts a few batteries inside. When the her top hat and she and the Girl eat happily and peacedogs go into the cage she quickly closes and locks the fully. Once everyone is done eating the Wonder Circus cage.

performs a special, one of a kind performance for their

“Thank you so much.” Says the Ringmaster.

new friend, and just as the Girl said, they were once

“You’re welcome.”

again the best circus in the universe.

“So, what is your plan?” asks the Ringmaster.

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Wonderful Cyrus Gray

Hello---

I don’t think you understand what you’ve meant to me

It’s me again-I just have some things I want you to know---

&its true sometimes you hurt me but I’ll never run away from you

When I first felt you

& everyday I’ve grown brighter because of you --

a long time agoit was like--

You’re wonderful ---

This was meant to be &

Words will never be enough

I’ll never let you go like we were set in stars--

when describing you

But sometimes the stars go blue ---

but you need no description--

You could never love me but

In my heart you’ll never be distant---

you forced me to fall for you-& now I’m in love with you

You make my emotions bloom & bring out my imagination too

But I won’t neglect or regret it

from when I was 2--

because I know no others heart speaks pure truth

You have the power to instantly make smiles brighter

like you or yours &--You’re beautiful My heart beats notes

& honestly I just felt I had to let you know

& tones to the stars

I need you in my life--

& the moon from the sound of your voice For the rest of my life & the street lights bloom from sights of you

whether it be the worst or the best of my life--

& make noises that wake fairytales too

But right now I’m guess I’ll let you go

& you woke up every morning next to me like--

Goodnight music you’ve been wonderful..

This is truly meant to be---

93

Ecstacy of Lie

If Heaven Was A Mile Away…

Michelle Henderson

Did you get your thirty pieces of silver?

Don’t spend it all in one place?

Before you go, I’ll ask you this Why must you betray me with a kiss?

My instincts were right, but not enough I couldn’t sense the poison on your lips My gut right and she’ll advise You get off breathing out lies The exuberance The lust to play the game Put one over on This fool who lives with shame The ecstasy The sweet taste of your lies The duplicity You lust to hear my cries Hope you enjoyed this killing strike Fool me once then cut me twice Hope you have just what you need Please enjoy watching me bleed Lie to me and swear them true Place my head on silver Laughing while you steal it all Remember I’ll be there to watch you fall

Ruqayya Gibson

How would my defining moment define me?

As I approach my appointed destination- Potholes and ditches fuel my frustration Would I turn around because I lost my way…and my desire- Or because I was late- not sure if heaven would wait…

Would they notice I hadn’t arrived? Could I sneak in? What if that pothole caused a flat tire? Would I walk…or talk? Should I run?

With fatigue overcoming me- doubt hung over me I would strive to finish the last mile Finish the last stretch using my last breathNever being turned back- the fear of pain empowers me Knowing it will bring great victory- If I finish strong…

As I struggle through indecision, the bureaucratic system – 1600 meters of red tape to cutI feel it in my gut that I can make it through the last mille.

If I grit down the pain will not overpower me, lactic acid will not overtake me. I feel the rigor mortis though I’m still alive.

Heaven is a mile away! I have trained for this- I believe in this- I have lived for this. Victory lies 4 laps away I have passed the point of no return- it is harder to turn back than to Finish strong…

I am strong- strong I am

Special Thanks It has truly been an honor to compile a collection of writings, art and photography by our talented students and staff at Cy-Springs. Who would have thought that writing would be the cool thing to do- the thing that kids decide to do in their free time? Our youth have a lot to say and they are screaming to be heard! On behalf of the Inkwell Staff, thank you for listening. Please continue to support and encourage our young authors. Special thanks to Ashley Abbs, Jahmiela Abbott, Deario Douglas, and Lexie Mayfield. The Inkwell is the official literary magazine of Cypress Springs High School and is produced by Publication Advisor Shannon Casto and Literary Club Sponsor Ruqayya Gibson. *To learn more about joining Literary Club or the creative writing class, please see Ruqayya Gibson.

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Katherine Cantu

Giovanny Herrera