Grade 10 - 12
How Sweet it is! The answers he had long for, had desperately desired. Were truly simple to find, because he had always known them.
Life is a Road Life is long and dark, a tunnel with no end A long struggle on a road with no end. The road is not continually dark nor bleak. It to is bright and beautiful, full of the summer sun. The traveler on the road wants to linger in the places of warmth. To avoid the desolate openings of the darkened path. Deep in the abyss the wanderer is afraid and lost. All he wants is for the tunnel to end. Whether it ends on its own or if he must finish it. But the means and tools escape his sight. Loneliness and sorrow bear down on him from all sides. Weights that break his slouching back. Finally he collapses to his knees. Tears run down his face, into the shadowy beard that adorns his chin. He can go no farther, the burden has become to much. He only wants the suffering to end, for the bliss to envelop him. Just before he feels himself fall, into the black abyss A light shines forth cutting aside the shadows. A homely face, one weathered and old appears before him and a wrinkled hand reaches out. He is pulled to his feet and shown the way. Out of sorrow and away from despair.
But they were hidden behind the smoke and mirrors, of his confused and cluttered mind. He had been nudged away from the endless abyss. And set back on the path meant only for him But as he set off with a confident stride. As the light of the sun began to cover him. He realizes all he wanted all he really needed, was a help hand. A caring and reassuring touch. What he wanted most of all, was for someone to understand him. Was for someone, Who could see him for him. What he wanted most of all was for the loneliness to end. And for it to be replaced with another’s love. Joel Luecke Grade 12, GlenOak High School
What Are We Are we nothing do we mean anything do people listen to us do we have a voice are we to sit a do nothing can we stand up for what we believe in do we have hope can we find hope out there somewhere do we have a say in what we do can we make our own decisions We are something we have a voice people do listen to us we are able to stand up for what we want we have all the hope we need we are able to find everything we need we can prove it to everyone who thinks different we really are something to be proud of Megan Speicher Grade 10, Jackson High School
Stark County District Library ~ 2012 Youth Poetry Contest ~ Page 90