CASCIA HALL LITERARY MAGAZINE 2021-22 EDITION

Literary Magazine Staff Sponsor: Sarah Kennedy

Editors-in-Chief: Bella Smith & Trenton Tabler Senior Editors: Addison Zenthoefer Betzy Soto Rylei Wolf Lauren Ferrari Bella Maust Kaylee Do Toby Martin Junior Editors: Adi Pemberton Bella Doering Caroline O’Connor Gracie Kinnaman Jake Krout Jazyn Sanchez Robbie Goldzweig Samantha Crane Tania Castillo Design Team: Bella Smith

Table of Contents September Submissions “Summer Rain” Jaelee Comstock “Soaking Up the Summer” Claire Forbes “Summer of Cruelty“ Abby Carter “Street Signs” Abby Carter “Goodbye Summer” Aidan Greene “Homerun” Hunter Stockton “It’s Alright” Cesar Marquez “Notary” Ethan Nguyen “Summer Comes to an End” Carolina Chavez “Summer is Gone” Jordan Chalmers “Summertime Sadness” Sophia Fleming “The Hot Begins To Fade” Cesar Marquez “The Summer Shared With Covid” Adi Pemberton “Ode To Summers Not Had” Lake Luessenhop “Summer Overlook” Betzy Soto Middle School “Dear Summer” Sydney Lehman “Ode To Wyoming” Lucy Biolchini “An Ode To Summer” Kennedy Welsh “Friends are Fun” Sarah Kraft “I miss Summer” Lela Ahlfenger “Summer Fun” Gavin Nichols “Ode to Everything Summer” “Ode to Mac Jones” Josh Kalkat “Ode to Naptime” Sunny Stokley “Ode to Night Time” Alex Waite “Ode to Summer Hate” Scout Glisson “Ode to Summer” Brooklyn Ponds “Ode to Tan Lines” Maggie Phillips “Ode to the Beach” Kate Roller “Ode to the Ocean” Rowan Alexander “Ode to Watermelon” Roman Attisha “Summer” Jack McMahon “Summer” Brooks McMahon “Summer End Game” Enzo Garcia-Pham “Summer is Over” Mazie Gibbons “Summer Poem” Georgia James “The Bad Side of Summer” Rishi Agrawal “You Are Here With Me on the Beach” Iris Kennedy October Submissions “My Debt” Toby Martin “Listening to Raindrops” Toby Martin “The Rattle of Defeat” Henry Erdmann “Oh It’ll Be Swell” Toby Martin November & December Submissions “Ode to Shelves” Jake Kraut “I Sleep Tight” Jake Kraut “Falling From the Sky” Jake Kraut “Tis the Season” Lauren Ferrari “Arguing With Progress” Abby Carter “Christmas Break” Hunter Stockton “Christmas” Kate Butler “Christmas Cookies” Jordan Chalmers “Christmas Eve - Vignette” Darby Chalmers “Christmas Haikus” Maggie Phillips “Christmas is Here” Aidan Greene “Christmas Morning” Sophia Fleming

Table of Contents November & December Submissions “Christmas Time Again” Adi Pemberton “Christmas Tree - Haiku”Darby Chalmers “Christmases” Trenton Tabler “Holidays” Jaelee Comstock “Jolly ‘Ol Saint Nick” Sophia Fleming “The Dead Season” Lake Luessenhop “An Antique Fire” Trenton Tabler “The Winter’s Wild Hunt” Lake Luessenhop

February Submissions “It’s Strange” Toby Martin “Love Is Blind” Toby Martin “Quiet Joys” Toby Martin “Respite” Toby Martin April Submissions “Only 12” Rylei Wolf “A Beautiful World” Lauren Irwin “In the Distant Future” Kim Sowol “Addis Ababa Airport in April” Ellis Uhren “Blue Beads” Max Weller “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Paytin Ginn “Car Wreck” Sofia Ketchum “Do You See Row?” Ana Sofia Victoria Moreno “Friendship Ride” Betzy Soto “Grown Man” Toby Martin “It’s Late” Mary Lee “Monday, April 4th” Linley Griffin “Pretty Flowers” VIvian Miers “The Misleading Smell of Bacon” Kate Warthan “Vault of the Sky” Betzy Soto “Bitter Betrayal” Jayce Ward “Seek Peace” Jayce Ward “What I See” Toby Martin “The End of an Era!” Cameron Clark Middle School Submissions “Found In Dreamland” Alexis Padalino “Burning Dreams” Kiyadi Simmons “Into the Darkness” Banks Cozby “The Ghost of the House” Ryan Ross “Depression” Catherine Wynn “Quiet as a Cemetery” Brody Weber “Shadow at Night” Gabby Corley “Why Love?” Khairi Finch “When He Was Alive” Jill Lobpries

1st Place Contest Winner Summer of Cruelty Abby Carter

It was the summer of ‘42 And I never had much to do.

I hadn’t known you long.

But, you made the world feel like it had no wrong.

We knew every back road.

For you, my love overflowed.

And although I knew it would end, My mind refused to grow grim.

The world made sure I knew That I was never made for you.

In their cruelty, I was unable to believe.

I was so sure you’d never leave But the days grew strange And we both began to change.

The love we had was becoming lost And to this day I still can’t understand the cost.

The sky turned gray And I knew it was no longer May. The summer was gone and I’m stuck moving on.

2nd Place Contest Winner Soaking up the Summer Claire Forbes

The warmth of the air was hitting my face The UV index was 11 It was a great day for tanning I laid on my back listening to my summer reading book on audio Soaking up the last few days of summer Summer was about to end I sat by the pool trying to get burnt one last time Before it was all was over Before I had to think about schoolwork Before I had to wake up early for school I was already stressing about my summer homework So I couldn't even fathom what the school year would be like All the homework I would be bombarded with How much stress I would go through But I couldn't think about that yet I just wanted to focus on the positive On how I still had some summer left Even though there was little summer left I tried to reminisce on what a good summer it's been

3rd Place Contest Winner Summer Rain Jaelee Comstock

Sun hidden behind clouds. Birds freeze in place. Waves of smoke in the sky, billowing from flickering light posts. Warm coffee pages and faded ink, broken spine and torn cover.

Blackberry letters, a sweet syrup mixed with honey. Pen meets paper, and the rain begins to fall. Smearing through crinkling leaves adorned with red lipstick pearls. Blowing across each sugary word, rain descends like an angel. It flutters to the pages, honeyed ink bleeds into swirling cream paper.

Syrup simmers on uneven stovetops. The warmth of the sun reduced to half, quarter teaspoon of autumn leaves, mix well. It is harsh and relentless and cold. Summer sliced clean from the recipe; rainwater sloshes against muddy gutters. Wet concrete benches, thick drops dance from branch to branch, the saturation of summer wavers to splintering autumn chill.

Leaves melt, clouds turn over, rain carves a path through subtle contrasts. Summer rain so different from the fall: thick hot tears make way for icy dagger drops. But the recipe never changes.

Street Signs Abby Carter

I caught myself going 50 in a 65.

I was a mile from your house and, at that moment, I would have rather died than tell you goodbye again.

I was 16 years old.

And every Sunday morning, my friends woke up hungover and I woke up with tears in my eyes.

The ritual of leaving you became my religion.

Every Sunday I worshiped the ghost you would soon become.

I was 16 years old and I knew I’d said more goodbyes than one should ever mutter.

But I was just 16, I did not know how to go 65 in a 65 with you in my passenger seat.

I didn’t know how to tell you goodbye without my tears running down your back.

I was 16 years old praying for a normalcy I would never be granted. I was 16 years old and hopelessly, irreversibly in love with you.

Goodbye Summer Aidan Greene

It’s Gone The burning heat, gone.

The sweat dripping down my face, gone.

The feeling of freedom, Disappears yet again.

Welcome to the long days, Filled with nothing but school.

Welcome to the long hours, Of homework every night.

Welcome to stress.

Goodbye to the long practices.

Hello to the short practices after school.

Goodbye to the freedom of summer.

Hello to the hours of stress.

It’s Gone.

Goodbye to Summer.

Homerun Hunter Stockton

As the final batter stepped into the dirt batters box which had been worn down over the pace of the game, he knew this was the final pitch of the game no matter what. There were two outs, three balls, and two strokes with the game-winning run at the plate. The crowd was silent as they knew this was the ball game no matter the outcome. The smell of the dirt helped the batter lock into his mindset as he knew this was where he was meant to be. He looked around and started to picture that perfect swing on the perfect pitch to win the game. The pitcher delivered his pitch and the batter tightened the grip on his wood bat that felt as smooth as butter. The batter took a big hack at the pitch and caught it just right. The ball left the yard and the game was over, homerun.

It’s Alright Cesar Marquez

The cold starts to hurt, I do not like the freezing winds as it hits my earlobes, causing pain to my chest as I slowly breathe air. I start to get warmer because of my overprotective mom who forces me to wear a coat even if I'm outside for a few minutes.

It’s a good thing my mom cares about me enough, because the hoodie she gives me keeps me warm from the cold. The cold might not be as bad but I’d rather it be warm for I hate the cold.

The cold can be good; it reunites us with our friends and family.

We can spend more time inside playing video games than getting injured outside from any dangerous obstacle or animal.

I'm glad there is a balance between the cold and the great heat.

Notary

Ethan Nguyen

I say the night never changes, you say it's because our love never shows signs of fading. When I say good night, you say “why”, almost as if you never expected the times to change. I’ll write goodnight across the bridge’s pine boards. Sometimes the best thing is just to say it's dark and the flame bright sun rises by seven, it may be that the sun will never cross that path again and the right way is to just to let it remain as it is now, a whisper of what was wanted but never truly was. It was ages since we last stood together, under that pearl light as we held each other, hoping that breeze would sing us away in a dream. Why can’t now be like then, what has changed to the point we can’t salvage these scraps left. Shouldn’t we try or at least plea for another chance. Could we have just gripped on to each other’s clothes, bitten into what flesh our hopeless selves could have tasted. I regret not seeing it from afar, it took us too long to come to our senses and we both ended up farther in the end. I remember every verse of your speech, that ever growing spiral of peach and rose eclipsing what golden glow misted your skin.

We walk away, saying still with a smile that crosses our faces, good night moon. Goodnight to those dates at the frozen custard stands, late night walks on the beach where sand studded our tennis shoes, having you wake me up with a nudge and a drizzle of soda on my chest, to us and our late night swims from one corner to the next. We’ll never grow to hate this, for it was justly timed and even though I find a bitter taste with this thought it's true. Till heaven strums our chords in the next life.

It’s boiling outside, so well is this room where the sun fumes the air about. I want to take my shirt off, unbutton the center, let the sleeves slip past my shoulders and just walk about in my pants.

Slimming and floating above the void. But how come I can’t, I can’t bring myself to do these mindless tasks, just because. It lingers till the whispers of night and probably till dawn, this shirt.

Barely held with a single contact of thread and button.

Shouldn’t it be pulled off, in a fight, by a walk in the garden to just brush against the lemon tree. What makes it stay still, no matter what I try or what god tries, it holds. Sweat dripping down my collarbone, just to have this shirt pick up my cheek and hold the streams from muting my face. I’d take it off, I really would. I would, but I can’t say we need to let this go, to be gone of my fondness for the scent. If it was taken in the crux of my slumber, though I wanted it to be gone, I’d grasp my own chest to sense the memory of fabric. Come past midday, it’d be on my chair, folded with roses and lavender. I’d put it on, the sun would touch my cheek, this isn’t my shirt.

Who are you to me! Asking myself this is repetitive and idiotic.

Couldn’t it just be that you mean nothing and that I just like you for your figure and nothing more. Is there that lingering glimmer of humanity in your eye that I initially drew my o so alone heart to yours? Or was I just dreaming that as well? Violas play, the scissor tail sways, and I feel a cool reach up my leg; could I call it your love overwhelming my senses, maybe even just the warmth of the air changing the shade of my hair to brown. Would you notice that my hair color changed? I was at fault, you see me as nothing and I know better than to slip under a cold palm as yours.

Tell me the stars fade, that when I am on tearing at my base you’ll save me. I trust you, I know that there will be someone who comes and saves me.

Summer Comes To An End Carolina Chavez

My friend and I watch and observed the forest We hear the snakes, fishes, crickets while we lay down in the Floor. We realized summer has come to an end.

No more sleepovers, no more staying up late.

Two months felt like 2 weeks.

We had to make this day a remarkable day.

As we laid down in the grass it started to rain .

We felt the fresh and cold rain drops falling from The sky, It was hot and humid outside so we laid down And let the rain drop on us. We smelled the grass and layed Down in the mud. When we got up is like if the world Flipped upside down. It continued to rain and we still were playing With the mud. We saw a beautiful butterfly that had Blue wings. The butterfly need help but Then we realized it was 9pm and it was time to go home because we started school.

We can wait for next year's summer.

Summer is Gone Jordan Chalmers

Summer is gone. The weather is changing and I feel the hot weather slowly leaving. Time to put on sweatshirts and cozier clothing. I am excited for cooler weather but sad to see the warm weather go. I am sad that I have no more free time, that I have to focus on school and tennis most of the time. I also am glad I get to see my friends more, but sad that I am more stressed. School makes me sad because I feel like I am always busy. Now that summer is gone I can’t just do something exciting, I have to worry about work. Summer meant tubing on the lake all day and wiping out so badly, vacations, a lot of free time, time for yourself and friends, and time to just relax. I am going to miss summer a lot, but I am ready for this school year and this fall season to come.

Summertime Sadness Sophia Fleming

Until Next Time The last crickets chirped. The last firefly flickered. The last warm breeze tickled my face. I know this meant summer was coming to an end. The days of relaxation and no stress. Hot sun penetrating my skin and crispy chlorinated hair. Burnt cheeks and dark freckles. Carmel skin and golden hair. All of these coming to an end. I was leaving all this behind, just to have pale and unalive skin. Dry lips and constant headaches.

Overwhelming nights full of anxiety and tears. No time to breathe. Summer allowed every muscle and bone in my body to loosen and relax. My heart ached staring out my window watching the last leaf fall. If only summer lasted forever. But looking out at that tree shedding its seasonal tears, I knew that leaf would be back. It would turn brown and leave the tree bare, then bloom again and finally turn green indicating summer. The trees were patient every season, why wasn’t I? Taking my final glimpse at the tree, I closed the curtains and whispered “Until next time” (177).

The Hot Begins to Fade Cesar Marquez

The days become darker as the leaves become brighter. The chilling winds start to hurt your eardrums. You can feel the chills down your legs and through your face. The Hot begins to fade.

The low temperatures begin to get serious. The leaves have already started to fall from the once beautiful and full of life trees. The fun lakes and picnics are no more, for there is a new season, a season of cold and dark days. The hope of the green, bright fields of crops and beautiful flowers have been shortened.

Without the warmth of the sun, we get less active and stay inside. We at least enjoy our time with our family and friends but it’s not the same. No more picnics or games out in the field. We are held prisoners in our massive coats and blankets. I don’t like it one bit, for I am a person of fun outside games, for it describes the face of my personality. With no warmth, no fun.

The Summer Shared With Covid Adi Pemberton

Although you would think summertime would be a happy time.

For the summer of 2021, it really wasn’t. Here is some background knowledge. A pandemic hit the whole world like a rocket in 2020, because of how contagious it was, practically everything was closed.

Summertime this year was sitting at home staring at the ceiling zoning out, maybe even some wishing for school to hurry up and save us from this isolation.

The faculty and students of Cascia Hall craved in-person interaction, maybe even the school’s hallways craved to be walked down again. The walls of the school perhaps longed to hear the sound of students talking within it.

Although buildings don’t have feelings, we can only imagine how could it have felt if it actually possessed human emotions. I guess that’s what we could call summertime sadness, the loneliness of being in a pandemic during summer. I could only imagine what it would feel like to have covid during summer, or even worse, having family members be sick with it and having to go to the hospital. We all hope that next summer will be like all of our past ones when a pandemic was the least of our worries and traveling wasn’t such a worrisome idea to have.

Ode to Summers Not Had Lake Luessenhop

In cathonic prelude lies draconian spring In orphic, in Kur, in Sheol ionian Phantastic Eru’s greens Summer in static sleep Pomegranates and liconic bereavement In orpic destiny

Adieu! Summer, for the midnight sun For art of bark and stone in absence Adieu evening star!

Sun, clouded in hmerodic disposition In Ereshkigal's domain Behind seven gates Persephone, Ishtar, Tammuz and Osiris wait In Baldur’s summer light

Fore Adieu, spring eternally haughty Amatarasu lies ne’er reflections Damned in night for things unseen Nor Ame or Mir an agents ascended Lay waiting no vain revelry

Summer Overlook Betzy Soto

Green grass, Droplets last, Dew that shines, Bugs chirping of life.

Light that breaks through the shadows.

The sun that comes out to play.

Burning bright in the sky, The sun bids us a nice day.

Hanging out with friends, Having a picnic near the shed.

A nice day to look outside and wonder why life just passes by.

Having fun everyday.

Hoping it lasts forever.

Alas summer is only two months, So enjoy the time you have left even in bad weather.

Don’t waste your time mopping all day, Get up and tell life “HEY!” Don’t let the bad things bring you down.

Know that they want you to feel doubt.

Be positive and no one can ever stop you now.

Dear Summer Sydney Lehman

Dear Summer, Thank you for endless days by the pool and sunburns that fade to tans.

Sleeping in and staying up till midnight.

Thank you for outfits embracing bikinis, shorts, and sandals.

Car trips with blasting music and the world on high, out the window of a plane Trips to the beach, playing volleyball, and long walks on the hot, gritty sand while seashells dig into our feet.

And for days ending with us feeling waterlogged as a sponge.

Thank you for juicy fruit, oozing with sweetness, for the smoky smell of meat and vegetables charring on the grill, and for ice pops cold enough to give a serious case of brain freeze.

Farewell Summer, see you next year!

It's going to feel like an eternity, Until then I’ll enjoy the crisp Autumn air, s’mores and bonfires, snowmen and hot cocoa, and then Spring flowers.

Ode To Wyoming Lucy Biolchini

This beautiful place Is waiting patiently To wrap you in its warm embrace The view’s picturesque Staring upon the endless skyline You will never feel distress From crisp, cool mornings The frost on the leaves To warm sunny days A goal of happiness achieved The trees as tall as mountains The mountains even taller They rise high above the clouds They can’t get any smaller The smell in the air like a warm apple pie So real you can almost taste it The feeling of the soft, fluffy grass on your hands This time, you cannot waste it The possibilities are endless here The entertainment never ends

An Ode to Summer!

Kennedy Welsh

Goodbye to summer Goodbye to the fun Goodbye to the late nights Goodbye to the summer weather Goodbye to the swimming on hot days Goodbye to sleeping in late Goodbye to the no homework days Goodbye to the hot as the sun days Goodbye to the good looking tan Goodbye to the good tasting lemonade Goodbye to the campfire night Goodbye to the staying at friends on weekdays And goodbye to the no school days And hello to the new school year And the new teachers and rooms To the homework and study nights And to the football games And to the parent teacher conference days And to the late start days And most of all Hello to the first step closer to summer of 2022

Friends are Fun Sarah Kraft

friends are fun We can sit in the sun And we can play all day There is so much we can do In the summer we can hang out days on end We dress up and we pretend We buy matching clothes on shopping sprees And we laugh until we can not breathe We make the funniest TikToks, When we go on walks we go to the pool and have so much fun We are as close as one After our work is done in the setting sun We head for somewhere to have more fun A slushie or a mocha Is our number one On the way home we decide we want more After we make our smoothies at the end of the day We have painted and we drew until our fingers grow sore We still make something out of clay I really wish she could stay Yea...friends are fun

I Miss Summer Lela Ahlfenger

Oh was summer fun!

Taking in the long summer days, hoping my days would never end.

Going down to the ocean, getting to feel the touch of the soft sand, chilling in the 30A. I see the seagulls coming down low for bread.

Oh, how much fun they were having.

Heading back to T town but not for long, soon I will be heading to my favorite place of all.

I am crossing the bridge just almost there, when I look over to see the smooth water with just a couple of boats.

We have made it to Grand Lake!

I get to my house and head towards the jet ski that is catching my eye.

I start riding the waves and soaking up the sun, now my sunburn is as red as fire.

After my time comes to an end I head back to Tulsa, but don’t worry I will be back sooner than I know it.

I hung out with my friends all summer long, laughing all the summer days away!

The sad part has come, School has just begun.

Lyric poetry- Summer Fun Gavin Nichols

Staying up late and sleeping in It is always fun when summer begins Baseball tournaments, going to the lake with friends, and vacation A great sensation Baseball tournaments are fun I love to hit and run We play back to back games The crowd chants our name Riding jet skis at the lake is blast I like to go really fast Zooming through the rough water I feel the sun getting hotter and hotter Until it sets at the end of the day Then I go inside with my friends to play San Francisco is the best place to go In California you will never see snow I saw Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, MLB games and more After all of that activity everyday I felt sore Summer is fun but it goes by as fast as a plane I wish school was the same

Ode To Everything Summer Maggie Doyle

Summer is a time of celebration Kids out of school Hot as a thousand suns Everyone swing and playing Ice cream for everyone Fireflies in the night time Stay up and watch movies Sleepover every night Pancakes with chocolate chips In the morning

Cold pool Popcicles cold like heaven Picking Strawberries Making homemade jam As sweet as a the Bluest Blueberry Everything Summer Amazing till The start of fall

Ode to Mac Jones Josh Kalkat

You get drafted in April.

The team awaits you.

Your hype makes the summer go fast.

We don’t feel sad that summer goes.

Mac Jones is like miniature Tom Brady.

He wears number 10, but Brady wears 12.

You might not be Brady, but you will always be Mac Jones.

Your summer party will never be better than Brady, but your summer will be work.

You will be glad that summer is finally over.

Week 1 jitters always get you.

Summer is over Mac rejoice.

You get to start.

You feel the turf which makes your knees burn.

The sense summer goes away the one that hits your face.

Summer is long gone, your now in.

Cam called you mac and cheese we call you the savior.

The time has come Patriot football on the rise.

Against the Dolphins you played well then we had the Jets which is a free win in itself.

You learnt well in summer.

We are glad it's over Now it's time for the patriots to GO GO GO! Mac jones please save us once everytime summer is over.

Ode to Naptime Sunny Stokley

The lights turn off; and the soft SOUND OF MUSIC enters.

The COT SQUEAKS as I lay down in the little room.

The SMELL OF CRAYONS fills the air.

My HEAD FEELS HEAVY on the soft fluffy pillow.

WARM and COZY blankets surround me.

Like a caterpillar in a cocoon, I am safe and sound.

My beating heart slows.

Feelings of relaxation, takes over as my mind drifts away.

Like a feather, my body feels like it is floating.

Colors and unicorns dance across my thoughts.

Comfort fills my body.

This is rest.

A rush of burning light enters my eyes.

I want to go back to my happy place.

My arms lift and stretch like a cat.

Sounds of kids talking are all around me.

Teacher’s voice startles me as I slowly come back.

Ode to Night Time Alex Waite

All day you swelter Under the sun’s piercing rays, You find yourself wondering How do I endure this?

After every day of school, You wander home alone, You feel the blades of heat sear your skin And you hope for this hell to be over.

Dazed and heat stricken, Sweaty and stenching, You enter your household, And you try to find comfort in The cold of your home.

In your room, the sun still shines No matter what you do It keeps on bragging That you can't escape, Like you’re in a closed coffin.

As day turns to night, The sun stops shining, Your eyes can finally open, And you can enjoy your evening.

But when you see pitch blackness There's nothing quite like it, The sun is gone, and the moon Is now shining.

It’s cold rays of darkness Engulf you in a shroud.

As you welcome the moon’s embrace, You are finally calm, Tranquility finally finds you.

Ode To Summer Hate Scout Glisson Ode to summer hate, the worst parts of summer.

Getting in the car when seats are as hot as a stove top, And the sweat that makes your back stick as if you poured soda pop.

The heat is too strong even for the trees' leaves, As they dissolve away like Peter Parker after the snap in a breeze.

Listening to the rumbling sound of lawn mowers, And the turbine engine sounds of leaf blowers.

Eating a snow cone with all the wasps in the air That tell me to beware.

And having a picnic With all the centipedes That crawled at me from in the weeds.

The feeling of guilt for not going outside, But the feeling of comfort when staying inside.

Going over to grandmas for her hugs and food, But just start to feel like getting in a mood.

Watching the red, white, and blue fireworks reflect in windows, But not wanting to join in any of the colorful shows.

A giant cannonball in the pool, But when there’s chlorine in your eyes It doesn’t seem very cool.

Going on vacation is such fun!

But not when you come back with a burn from the sun.

There’s a lot to hate about summer, Even things you would look forward to.

But even if you hate summer, Just know Halloween is around the corner waiting to say BOO!

Ode to Summer Brooklyn Ponds

Here is my ode to summer, fun, sunsets, and many more.

All the memories I have had and all the memories to come are all nothing but a pocket full of fun.

Hangouts with my friends from day to night were never filled with fright.

The pool was warm and sometimes cold but I was never too bold to flip off the board.

The weather was hot, humid, and heavy but I was always ready to manage to be able to have fun.

I love the pool but not school.

Sleeping in is like a perfect beach day.

The air smells like sunscreen.

The sun on my skin feels warm and perfect.

The fresh lemonade tastes fresh and sweet.

I could stay up however late I wanted.

My summer fun had a lot to do with the sun.

Everytime I think about the pool I think about the nice tasting smoothies.

This summer was a blast, and I had enough fun to last.

I loved to sit in the sun, that's what made the day fun.

Eating sno cones and candy made a perfect day.

The thought of thinking about school made me want to drool.

Summer workouts were filling and fun.

Fresh water helped me through the heat and helped me not feel weak.

Here is my ode to the summer that was not a bummer.

Ode to Tan Lines Maggie Phillips

You didn’t use to be artificial You didn’t use to come from a bottle You used to be authentic You came from days out in the hot sun Splashing around in the pool or laying out at the beach You stayed around until the sun wasn’t quite so bright You faded completely by Halloween Paleness was the norm by Christmas As soon as the UV index hit 6.0 it was time to get you back Laying out in the driveway on a towel When the temperature was hardly 75 degrees Wanting so badly to get you back Who needs SPF 50 when tanning lotion has SPF 15 Skin cancer is a problem for future me You, tan lines, are my priority It's not enough to just go outside It needs to show that I go outside To see that crisp line when I move the bikini strap To compare arms to another person To hear “you’re so tan!”

Tan lines, take your time leaving

Ode to the Beach Kate Roller

There’s one thing we look forward to When summer comes to a start.

One week of the year, A special place in our hearts.

The twelve-hour car ride To the place of our dreams And the smell of the salty air The ocean water gleams We unpack our bags Just like its Christmas When we wake up that morning It is time for business Walking down to the boardwalk We look for the best spot The water looks refreshing As we are all hot Can’t wait to jump in the water Looks refreshing as can be The waves music to our ears The crystal blue sea Bonfires are lit With only just a spark Cicadas singing in the night And bike rides in the dark Creamy chocolate ice cream That makes the day complete And laying in your bed Is such an easy feat

Ode to the Ocean Rowan Alexander

The ocean so peaceful yet nature's fury so beautiful like glory for some a home for some an adventure

The ocean so pure how cool it appears indeed it’s obscure a mystery for years

The ocean so unexplored but the beach well known an enigma adored the sand lukewarm a floating surfboard enjoying the peace alone

It's hard to leave gotta say goodbye no need to grieve brings a tear to my eye it will be here next year my ocean dear

Ode to Watermelon Roman Attisha

The crackling noise echoes through the air.

The slices, so red, so sweet, The stains and stickiness are worth it The juice, like manna from heaven, drips down my chin I crave it With salt or lime Or even tahin Ice cold in the fridge Warm, fresh from the store The flies buzz around Searching for an opening It disappears quickly There’s never enough, Then it’s gone Scraped clean The rind sits in the yard, Discarded, tossed away Slowly rotting Then, in the distance The sound of the knife cutting the rind And we do it again

Summer Jack McMahon Sometimes In summer I feel dumber.

It is a bummer.

In the night.

I want to fly a kite.

So I took a bite of food.

I chewed the food, But my dog is really rude because of this random dude.

I don't want to go to school because It is not cool.

I went outside And saw a bee, Then a flea landed on me.

When it is hot, I dislike it alot.

When I jump in the pool, It is very cool.

I want a shoe, That is blue.

I open the door, And look at the floor.

I pour a glass of orange juice Like a cool drink on a summer day.

Summer

Brooks McMahon

In the summer There's so much fun Splashing in the pool Soaking up the sun Extra juicy watermelons And exciting baseball games Roasting marshmallows Over crackling flames Picnics and cookouts Out on the green Family fun and games Don't forget the ice cream Road trips to new places Are always fun Along with campouts and Chasing fireflies on the run So long summer Oh what a bummer Back to school Is so not cool

Summer End Game Enzo Garcia-Pham ughma ughma O I wish summa would coma Why did summer have to end I finally made a friend Every day I mourn I feel so forlorn For summer to come back And when it does, here will be sap

I was so happy When summer was a thing Everyday i miss it I wish i could kiss it

When I think about summer I think about drummers The beat can be wild It can also be mild

Summer tastes like orange.

Orange tastes like porridge.

Porridge can be good.

Summer is always.

I would always daze.

Summer is Over Mazie Gibbons

Summer sadness comes every year With the beginning of a new school year Brightness dims Darkness creeps in like my nightmares Causing my time under the sunshine To come to an abrupt end Vacations at the beach, Swimming at the pool, Are the days I long for Soon replaced with trivial tasks And lengthy hours of bore Freedom is torn from my grasp And lazy days no longer last The warmth of the sun Is now outrun Frozen by the crisp breeze Pleading, begging please For the days of past Clinging to my summer memories.

Summer Poem Georgia James

The light is so bright.

I might take a swim, But the sun might win.

I play with my dog, I threw him a log.

I take a sip of water, Cold as ice.

It keeps me cool, So does the pool.

It’s July.

With colorful skies, But too many flies, Annoyed with a buzzing sound.

So I went inside.

Fresh sliced watermelon, Iced tea on the side.

It looks so good, I go to my room, And I start to remember, I have so much to do.

The Bad Side of Summer Rishi Agrawal

I love summer!

But there is something bad, Summer can be boring Or also very sad.

Entomophobia is my thing fear of bugs you know?

They creep and crawl on my leg!

That’s super scary!

I really don’t like bugs at all They really make me scream.

The heat can be deadly or even burn the floor When I get hurt that would make my eyes pour.

Sure you get away from school but one thing is not good, I think you forgot that you are only getting as dumb as a cat and a door!

Someone needs to fix The faults in this season!

The only thing it does is get you out of school.

But all I’m really saying is that Summer has a bad side.

So go have fun outside!

Just keep these things in mind!

You are Here With Me on the Beach Iris Kennedy When you lose It feels like your sadness is going to ooze Out of you.

You feel like you’re going to cry When you have to say goodbye To somebody so important in your life.

You feel like you can never win Like you lost one of your limbs, Because you thought you would see them again.

But you just want to hide And to close your wet eyes.

Like a giraffe trying to hide behind a tree But apparently everyone can see me.

When I hear that one song It hits me like a bomb In a way I never thought it could.

I wish I could forget So I wouldn't be so upset.

It was supposed to be a happy month But instead it was just so tough.

When I see your smile in my dreams It makes me wake up with a gleam.

When I think of when you cooked I feel like I should.

I thought that it was going to be a fun summer But it was just a real bummer.

When I smell the sea It makes me believe That you are still here right next to me.

1st Place Contest Winner My Debt Toby Martin

My debt to you is everything You gave so much, you gave all How could I repay with the pathetic sums of my life?

You were radiant, warming the world with your presence.

I often felt the burden of my debt But now I feel deep respect For the love you inspired, and inspire.

I lived for you then And I live for you now Despite your new home, away from my ground.

I still feel despair, my grief overpowering.

But today I can live, and breathe in your air.

2nd Place Contest Winner Listening to raindrops (sentimentality) Toby Martin

They pitter away The present feels so real Living, being, doing But it all has to end And it all has to begin.

I will always live then But I always live now And for the will be.

The music ends, as well as me.

But in a sense, that makes the then so much more beautiful, and creates so much more meaning, That we may only live for the now once And the then forever.

3rd Place Contest Winner The Rattle of Defeat Henry Erdmann

An old man stands at a church’s grand doors in the late hours of an arctic winter night: His frostbitten hands reach out in an attempt to pull the doors open. *Click Click Click* *Click Click Click* They’re locked“Ironic,” the old man said.

“They claim to help the poor, sick, and hungry and I’m all of those but still …”

The old man stares at the Jesus painted across the double doors.

“I hate this phony organization.”

He kicks the doors and runs into the night past the twin Mother Mary statues that guard the front.

Rage is bubbling up inside the man and he can’t quite tell what it's from.

Walking through the dimly lit park across the street he feels the gaze of the geese, shunning him.

After every pass of a park bench or pair of lamp posts, he becomes more enraged until“AH HA” he said out loud.

He finally figured it out.

He hates everything just as everything hates him.

He hates the church and the grimy soup kitchen lunches and that guy on the corner selling his mixtapes and the crystal meth in his pocket and the kids that give him weird glares at the park and his park-bench bed and his old house and his ex wife and his Yale degree and most of all those damned church doors.

A menacing line of geese have congregated across the path.

The only escape is back to those damned church doors.

He snaps around and his torn coat flares up above his head as a jog quickly turns into a sprint.

He hears the patter of the geese’s feet against the pavement in pursuit, growing closer.

As he runs past his park bench, he honest to God sees it grow legs and join in on the goose chase.

When he gets to the two lamp posts at the entrance, they bend in an attempt to block him in.

He slides under -Indiana Jones style- and pops up running towards the locked church doors.

The heads of the twin Mary statues trace him as he passes them.

When he gets to the doors, he kicks them. *Click Click Click* He punches them. *Click Click Click* He thrashes at them until all he can do is lean against them in defeat.

He has murderous geese, a legged park bench, snake-like posts, and sentient statues after him.

There’s no way out.

He looks up at the painted Jesus to see it reaching out of its two dimensional bounds to grab him.

The old man at first accepts the help of the church door until its grasp clenches around his neck.

Picking him up, the door strangles him, the geese bite into his flesh, the bench binds around him.

Looking back he sees the statues’ heads swivel 180 degrees and the posts twirl like silly-straws.

He begins to fall and when his head hits the brick he sees nothing but hears everything.

Every argument with his wife, every boss laying him off, every coin bouncing into his cup.

He wakes up to a brilliant mourning and a kick in the stomach.

This is Friar Grant.

“Get a job you piece of trash!” he exclaims.

The old man’s gaze pierces into the Friar’s soul as he says, ”Your Jesus door is a real jerk.”

Another kick to the stomach gets me running into the park where I hid away on the same park bench that tried to kill me last night. I feed the geese that ate away at my now miraculously healed legs. I use newspapers full of “Vote For Free Healthcare'' and “Getting a Job Has Never Been Easier” to shield myself from the cold. I’ve decided it's not me that's the problem, it's the world. I’m the only sane one and these idiots are livin’ in a high-lifed dream. Whatta bunch of dummies.

Oh It’ll Be Swell Toby Martin

You and me can love one another We’ll bind ourselves, immerse ourselves in a syrup of affection.

No sweeter confection can live up to this connection, you give me my air, my lifeline to the sky.

But where are you?

You’ve gone and left Leaving me starving to death My breath is short and my eyes pierce in pain.

Why are you gone?

Why did you ever love me?

Without you my wounds fester My heart is lame, pulled and pushed, a sponge soaked and rung in endless lament.

It is cruel to love.

To be loved.

You simply promise to die twice.

1st Place Contest Winner An Ode to Shelves Jake Krout

Rows filling stores wall to wall Each row with shelves top to bottom Each shelf filled with products end to end Like amazon in person They have everything you need Except for one time of year Except for that time of year That time of year when you spend all of your time Rushing through the giant maze made up of these shelves Discovering sections you never knew existed in these stores Looking for the things that you don’t even want for yourself You can’t find this You can’t find that You can’t find anything You wanted to avoid the stampedes of late November You wish you would’ve gone anyways The stress and worrying is much worse than any trampling would’ve been After the 20th store you feel like you’ve run a marathon But looking online it’s even more hopeless Everything’s out of stock But you go out once more the night before the final day Exactly what you needed has been restocked But to you it’s not been restocked It’s been some sort of holiday miracle Waiting for your eyes fall upon it and finally check off the last item on your christmas list.

2nd Place Contest Winner I Sleep Tight Jake Krout

I sleep tight I dream, dream, and dream I wake up I see my clock says 8:17 am I jump out of bed I go downstairs I see the present I see the one I see it is just for me I wait I wait I wait I see my parents walk into the living room I see the smile that contains some sort of joy as they see waiting for me to open the lone gift under the tree, mixed with the hope for a better future than the one they are living in, blended all together to mask the sadness they carry throughout the day.

I take the ribbon off I remove the tape I unfold the wrapping paper I want to savor this moment I know my parents want me to be careful I know my parents want to reuse this wrapping paper next year.

I see what is beyond the wrapping paper I see an Amazon box, my eyes light up. In the past it’s always been a Fedex box, and I’ve gotten the same thing every year: nothing. But this is a different box. Did they get me something this year? How could they have afforded it? Was this mask of happiness I put on every Christmas my real face this time? What could it be?

I have to know what’s in this box I unfold the top flaps of the box I see it filled with bubble wrap I take out the bubble wrap I see an empty box I look to behind me I see the bubble wrap I threw aside I wrestle through it I hope my gift was caught inside I still can’t find anything I still got nothing I realize it is just another year I feel my mask come off I let my parents really see me I see a tear roll from my mother’s eye as she struggles to hold her smile. Looking towards my father, I do not see his face, as he struggles to even look at me. How could they have brought something so full of joy into this joyless world they live in? Why stay in this joyless world we all live in? Why not leave? There’s supposed to be someplace after this. I know there is. A man comes to our house every Sunday afternoon, telling my parents about something -- no, someone greater than all of us, and the place in which he lives.

Will I see him if I leave? No. I don’t even know the road to get there. I must stay. I have nowhere to go.

I smile to my parents again I see my mother’s smile break I see her break away I hear her crying I know I must stay here I know I have nowhere to go And I know that I have nothing

2nd Place Contest Winner Falling from the Sky Jake Krout Every kid down the block did everything they could to make this happen Some kids asked for it in their prayer before bed Some kids wore their pajamas inside out Some kids even put a spoon under their pillows And their wishes were all answered People are falling from the sky!

Every single one of them is different Some are old and some are young Some are big and some are small Some are boys and some are girls They all fall from the sky And come together to form piles on the ground The kids look out their windows and run out their front doors Equipped with their armor of coats to protect from the vicious cold Carrying their mounts under their arms ready to slide down the hills They enjoy their freedom from school They enjoy something they can’t have any other time of year Each of them forgetting what each hill they slide down is made up of Each of the people being entirely different from anyone else Each of the hills being made up of infinitely uncountable amounts of unique snowflakes And each and every time the children slide down the hills Each and every one of them forget Each and every snowflake that has fallen is just as unique as each and every them And that makes each and every one of them beautiful…

… just like a s n o w f l a k e

‘Tis the Season Lauren Ferrari

‘Tis the season Where children laugh and play And parents groan as they shop all day ‘Tis the season Families gather round And Christmas cheer is all around ‘Tis the season The crinkle of wrapping paper riles up the kids And parents hurry to take pictures as they screw on their coffee lids ‘Tis the season All the classic Christmas movies come on As the powdery snow falls onto the lawns ‘Tis the season It’s the best time of the year Now it’s time to prepare for 2022 to come near

Arguing With Progress Abby Carter

I find myself deeply saddened that Christmas will no longer be you.

A day we made into love and hate, tears and lost testimonies.

But, maybe I should rejoice. My life is not ruled and berated by the words of another.

Despite this, I can not help but mourn.

I miss the command of your voice, the role I so easily fit into.

The world was easier when all I had to do was listen.

I am seventeen, God knows listening should be the hardest thing in the world to do.

But, instead, it is this.

Because I am seventeen and I cry to my therapist, I cry to my mother, I cry to strangers who probably spent all day crying themselves.

Christmas is no longer you.

And, I suppose, I should learn to stop arguing with progress.

But, it is Christmas, and I find myself mourning my life.

I find myself mourning you.

Christmas Break Hunter Stockton

The last day of school is over Finals are completed Christmas is getting closer Christmas food is needed Making cookies with your family Listening to holiday tunes Finding gifts rapidly The kids watching cartoons Free time for students Free time for parents No more studying for students No more work for parents Watching fun movies Sitting by the fire Kids having duties Parents making them wear good looking attire The last day of school is over Finals are completed Christmas is getting closer Food is needed

Christmas Kate Butler

Christmas Holly, Jolly Decorating, wrapping, celebrating Santa Claus comes tonight Jesus’ birthday Tree Green, full Glowing, Decorated with colorful ornaments Evergreen Santa Claus Big, red Caring, gifting, rollicking Leave out the cookies Saint Nick Ornaments decoration, glass Shimmering, shattering, reflecting Careful not to drop Decoration

Christmas Cookies Jordan Chalmers

A Christmas tradition We get out the ingredients We make the dough We get Christmas tree cookie cutters and start to cut the cookies slow Christmas music in the background Dancing all around While we wait for the cookies to be baked They are finally ready The colorful icing The decorations The sprinkles Everything to decorate each cookie This is the exciting part I cover the green icing all over the Christmas tree cookie And decorate it with red and white sprinkles My siblings and parents decorate them We finally get to eat them They are so yummy I can feel the Christmas spirit

Christmas Day Jordan Chalmers

Waking up really early Seeing all the presents under the tree and stockings stuffed The smell of Christmas morning breakfast And the smell of the tree The ornaments sparkling The house fully decorated Everyone openin up their presents Wrapping paper all over the floor New gifts all over the furniture A Christmas movie and music playing in the background Everyone sees little flurries of snow Jumping with joy!

A white Christmas!

It is what we have been wishing for We make hot chocolate and watch the snow fall Listening to the song, Deck The Halls Being grateful for all that we have Relaxing and enjoying the last bit of Christmas day The snow is done falling and everyone is in bed Sad because the end of Christmas is the part we dread Now we have to wait until next year

Christmas Eve- Vignette Darby Chalmers

Christmas Eve. A time of laughter and warmness in your heart.

Seeing family members you haven’t seen in a long time. “Merry Christmas” is heard all around. Time to see friends and be thankful. Some have traditions. Some just spend time with family and friends. Some go to church. Some stay home and cook. Some open presents. Some try to sneak around to look for the presents. Kids bake cookies for Santa. Kids track Santa to see where he is. The fire crackling and the smell of hot chocolate.

There is sweetness in the air. Warmness in your heart. Watching movies. Driving bye to see all the bright lights. From white to rainbow. From blue to green. From purple to red. Kids have excitement all around. Can’t fall asleep until Santa’s arrival.

Putting on your favorite Christmas pjs. No worries at all. Afterall, this is the best night of the year.

Christmas Haikus Maggie Phillips

‘Nother year of this Christmas without any snow No longer surprised

“Happy Holidays” The carolers sing to me The best time of year

Gifts beneath the tree Hot chocolate in my hands Finally at peace

Decorating the tree With the cherished ornaments Showing the past years

Its that time of year Houses covered with bright lights Best season of all

Christmas Is Here Aidan Greene

It’s here The most wonderful time of the year The time of joy Children playing in snow Families going out for a good show.

It’s here A time of families being together Grandparents flying or driving down to see Their grandchildren, Great feasts being prepared For family gatherings It’s here Waking up on cold mornings Making a hot drink to warm the home Children dashing to the tree In wait of joy For every girl and boy.

Christmas Morning Sophia Fleming

Christmas day is finally here I’ve been waiting a whole entire year My siblings and I race down the stairs With no worries in the world, nor cares Christmas decorations are on every wall And children run up and down the halls The snow turns everything outside white A winter Wonderland, what a pretty sight The presents are hidden under the tree There are more than our eyes could see We open all of our gifts with gratitude Everyone with an amazing attitude The smell of a feast floats through the air And mom brings the food out with our shares We gather around the table in laughter and cheer Cause today, there is no room for tears Let us all be happy on this day And celebrate such a magical holiday Listen to the angels sing with their voice Cause today is a time to rejoice

Christmas Time Again Adi Pemberton

Christmas time again Some days I dread the cold air I wish it snowed here

I wish that it snowed here, maybe that’s just me I wish it was warmer, maybe like 70 I wish the sun would come out every day, wait what about the clouds I wish the breeze would be a little less breezy, maybe my hair wouldn’t be so crazy I wish the leaves of the tree would stay orange and red, chlorophyll is fine, it can stay in grass I wish I realized that it can’t snow when it’s 70 I wish winter would come sooner like really it starts on December 21st I wish that ice skating wasn’t so complicated, I can barely walk and you expect me to skate on ice I wish that 1st semester would end sooner, maybe then I would enjoy winter more I wish that this wasn’t my last line, cause then I could write a whole essay about my wishes for winter

Christmas Tree-Haiku Darby Chalmers

Decorated tree The smell of fresh balsam Bright lights all around For holiday cheer Ornaments passed from family Excitement all around No more worrying From the sight of the bright tree Everyone sees cheer Families gather Decorations of tinsel Sparkles everywhere Gold star tradition Every tree needs a golden star Boring without it Colorfully lighted Colors of white or rainbow Every tree different Some trees are bigger Some are skinny and boring Every is special

Christmases Trenton Tabler

The Cold December Nights Bring fond memories Of Christmases past

Holidays

Jaelee Comstock

Apple cider over the stove A sweet simmering mixture Snow lands in patterns of lace A thin stroke of icy wind The smell of frozen trees Powdered sugar stars Sparkle like cellophane flakes Clouds twirl against chocolate skies Twinkling lights weave between Black licorice nights And pale moonlight Resting over a bustling house Cold window sills Warm fireplaces Each home to the winter Green branches reaching out Dripping with clinking ornaments Metallic shadows reflecting over velvet wreaths Glass icicles drip glitter Melting into sparks of silver Swept away by the wind

Jolly O’l Saint Nick Sophia Fleming

Christmas season has finally arrived A time where there is love and holly We are reminded of the magic in the air And Saint Nick, along with all his jolly As kids rest their heads on Christmas Eve The silence will be all they here But little do they know that Santa has come, Along with all his reindeer He’ll leave the gifts out under the tree And will want a little treat So make sure you leave out a plate of cookies Cause he’ll grab a bite to eat He’ll ride through the night visiting every home Leaving everything you wished for And as he travels through the sky You'll know he was at your door On christmas day you'll wake up And see all the magic that stayed He’ll be back at the North Pole by now But his visit reminds you that Christmas truly is The best holiday

The Dead Season Lake Luessenhop

Be merry in this dead season; the oak says adieu Rest near the hearth fire, clouds stain bleakley Dulcet tones fill each ear, winds howl A star rests in a tree but leaves the sky Each flower supplanted by that merry fungus called mistletoe The equinox draws near, nights grow longer Yuletide arrives in the darkest hour Saturnalia arrives, oceans freeze Irish tombs see the sun; sunlight shines in a decayed place Snow gleams white, Death is on the Delaware The evergreen stands, bearing unfit fruits Eternal night, no stars to be found In harvest food’s plenty, the soil lies dormant In hibernation, nature seeks a warm den In weary pains, we rest

An Antique Fire Trenton Tabler

The fire crackles in the ancient hearth, Sending shadows flying across the room, The emitting light engulfs the christmas trees In splendid light The wood-paneled library lets in light Through the tall glass windows Allowing the view of the snow covered Park to enter into the warm room The cold protrudes into the room, Through the antique glass, But not long before the fire wins the Battle In the center of the room Sits an enormous Evergreen-Covered from base to tip in The most splendid gold and silver Ornaments ever designed Encapsulating the spirit of Christmas In one scene

The Winter’s Wild Hunt Lake Luessenhop

Einherjar and Valkyrie with hollowed Woden’s steed Descend upon Hrothgar’s Hall after summer mead Arawn reins hounds, omens lost in Frau’s frozen time Foretold by Fenrir howls in frigid Jotunheim 8 Grimm from Deutsche to Danube, echoing the din Garmr sing a lycan’s song of sin Eternal huntsman ream the sky So rides the black sun hunter’s hoard Restless and alight with eyes Gaelic and roars In Nix’s hallowed equinoctial night Yuletide, e’er darkened by new years light Trod, Sleipnir shines of absent moonlit white The ghostly band of Teutonic knights Descend in phantasmic flight The Eldritch war, Naglfar’s right

1st Place Contest Winner

It’s Strange Toby Martin

How the fount of joy can quickly turn To burn at its touch Once it’s been tainted The same reminiscing can go rampant Into unstoppable tears And a quivering mouth, Hot thoughts scalding my heart And bleeding out anew As I run over my wounds Again and again and again and again, And again.

The bittersweet draught of memories Scratches my throat as I pour But I can’t stop Because it’s all I have left The flame of love Making me lame, stupidly The happy forms fuzzy Sharpened by the sad.

2nd Place Contest Winner Love Is Blind Greyson Gursky

Love is a word that can not be described, Only shown through your actions like moths to a light The light in your soul attracting the other, can shimmer and sparkle with true passion for each other Though when shimmering dies down and the darkness takes over The love you seek is blinded, despair is taking over No matter how you hide it, it will never go away The love you seek is blinded, losing its way With your heart stolen swift, like the memories of the past You know you truly love him, since he won't give it back He takes it and leaves, without a solitary word Just the black he leaves behind, along with your tears His number now null, and the void of your day The love you seek is blinded, losing its way The way on a pavement The road to your soul Cracking and breaking your heart’s leisure stroll The beating of his heart, so sound and secure Leaves your heart with doubt, that he’ll never be yours The bleakness of the world, the universe all around you Makes you feel so alone since love won't beseech you Though love is just a word, with actions as its context The Love you sought blinding, now reveals to be enlightened Love does not define you You are who you are No matter who it is Be thankful they were yours

3rd Place Contest Winner

Quiet Joys Toby Martin

It’s hard not to love those which exhilarate The shows, cheers, The Highs and lows that give such sate But often it's the mundane that makes life so lovely The hushed melody may bring me to tears as much as the voluminous vocals My heart sings out at the sound of quiet bliss The chords created by my hands busy I would be remiss to not value Like the morning dew grass Kissing my heels in my stride As the chirping of birds affirm That I am tied to this land And the background That holds my hand

Respite Toby Martin

The frost nipped trees, nude in their winter My face flushed in their gaze Squinting in the snow light A blur around my world The wind not howling Whispering needles on my cheeks With royal decree Apollo cries Heaven’s blessing smiling in my eyes Spark flitters down my arms And I may see gold once more The warmth rich Like such precious ore.

1st Place Contest Winner Only 12 Rylei Wolf

Sitting in the car Eating peacefully.

The sound of gunshots, Filled the car Bullets flying everywhere Hitting us in every direction.

Bloody bodies bounced back and forth.

Heads hitting the dash.

Trying to get up fast.

Children ducking for cover.

Just like the others with pumped up kicks Should we have run, run, run, faster than his bullet?

Fear.

Bloodshed.

Pain is never lasting, But scarring is forever.

Hiding it saying whatever.

Living while others don’t Pain to be carried with forever.

Blood dripping down every Inch of our body.

Red. Red oozing blood Resting on my clothes reaching back for her.

Alarmed.

Gun violence needs to be terminated.

Streets need fixing, Violence is never the answer.

Getting rid of guns is the best answer.

2nd Place Contest Winner

A Beautiful World Lauren Irwin

Once upon a time the sky was never blue It was made of deeper gray, and other colorless hues Then life soon formed in those older days Shaping us, in untold ways Yes blue the sky was made because of life Once upon a time, there was a small green stone Called the name of olivine, it is next to never known But closer inspection soon reveals That heat and friction is the seal With that small stone called olivine, of life Once upon a time, a star was still unborn In that huge cloud of mineral, light languished, forlorn But yet it soon was truly free, and real And with an often excited zeal It made a stone called olivine, and life.

And before any of these events Science and faith gladly presents A big bang made of stars and heat And soon awakened what was asleep And made the whole new universe, and life And in this God made dusk and dawn And green grass to populate the lawns The forests green and the skies so blue, and life.

3rd Place Contest Winner In the distant future

By Ethan Nguyen Kim Sowol In the distant future, if you ever look for me I shall then say , “I have forgotten.”

If you secretly reproach me I shall say, “I’ve forgotten after much longing.”

And if you reproach me still I shall say, “I have forgotten, for I could not believe.”

I have not forgotten, neither today nor yesterday but in the distant future, I will have forgotten.

“In my distant future” (An addition to Kim Sowol’s “In the distant future”)

Days pass, nights yearn, moon hopes, as the sun sets.

No matter the rosella’s color we wear, it all seems forgotten.

Like the leaves of that oh so distant shore, we wave to the sea foam’s ceased quest.

For it was nothing but a fantastic illusion in the end.

The decade we wandered endlessly in groves of magnolia and cherry blossoms.

So that I could one day tell you that: In the distant future, if you still look for me I shall then say, “I have been waiting all this time.”

So that in the distant future, if you ask me why I shall then say, “I’ve stayed because I loved you so.”

In the distant future, if you question your worth to me I shall then say, “ you are the heat which gives me lust for summer.”

I will never let you go, not now or when I must find you once more So in the distant future, I will never know of cold again.

Addis Ababa Airport in April Ellis Uhren

The Easter holiday has come to an end.

Goodbye to fun, sun, frolic, and family Farewell, Caroline and Jane One last hug.

One last kiss.

One last goodbye.

Your last utterances captured in time.

Warm Ethiopian sun beating down our goodbyes.

Salty tears streaming down my tanned face.

Shrieking planes depart and arrive, Shouts and waves abound.

Engulfed in the heat of the engines.

Tires squealing away.

Black smoke billowing, Today is their last day.

Once there were three.

Now only me.

For Harriet and Graham, Our new reality.

No longer alone, He is my home.

The Savior rose again, But we cannot roll away their stone.

Blue Beads Max Weller How did I get here?

Was once a child, with nothing to fear.

There used to be a time when I beamed with innocence, That has since turned to ignorance.

My life took a turn, and I didn’t know what to do, I started hanging with the wrong people, that's when they showed something new.

A little blue pill, the size of a bead.

After taking them I think to myself…I NEED! I abused and abused that little blue bead.

I was lost and thought I found a seed.

A seed that would grow into an answer.

Because I can’t keep living with this mental cancer.

I needed help, that much was clear.

They all tell me if I don’t stop, the end could be near.

So I went to rehab, full of fear.

Uncertain of the future, it's so unclear.

I want to get better, throw out these beads.

And now there are people listening to my personal needs.

I've never felt strong before, im shaking my knees, I’m getting better and getting help, all I ask is please.

Please help guide me on this path.

You are strong, help me be strong in this dark bath.

Bathing in the problems of my past, sadness is easily brought forth.

I am in a safe space now, way up north.

The beads call my name, with a love I used to know.

My body is now a temple, where clear streams flow.

The beads asked me a question, saying I will die without them.

I then confronted my demons, with the fear in me feeling dim.

If it kills me to leave you, Then I will gladly die.

Because with you I was only surviving, And I was destined to fly.

Breakfast At Tiffany’s Paytin Ginn

Walking down the streets of a city that woke up hours before me, I watch it come to life as the late risers (like me) take to the avenue.

Shoulders back, head high and with a soldier’s posture, my feet lead me down to a corner I know so well.

With the scent of fresh baked goods saturating the air, I enter the boulangerie for a light breakfast and coffee.

The sun’s rays penetrate my porcelain skin and reflect delicately off of my bedazzled necklace, like a disco ball.

So I pull out my large black sunglasses, the plastic cool and smooth to the touch.

Only in New York can a pleasant street performer’s violin solo blend into the muddled cacophony generated by rush hour traffic.

HONK! An unhappy city goer alerts me to the fact that I have stopped in the middle of the busy crosswalk.

I was distracted by the glamorous shop riddled with pastel blue across the street.

My wandering feet come to rest in front of its glistening windows.

Finally, I sip my coffee gingerly and take the first bite of my fresh baguette.

Car Wreck Sofia Ketchum

Boom, bam, bang Smoke and dust everywhere High piercing noise like a bird screaming in my ears Looking to my left and right I jump out of my semi to understand what just occurred Through the thick dusty smoke I see a squashed destroyed car in the distance The more people running up to me seeing if I was okay The realization of the disaster set in I felt like the bamboozled people on scene of 911 I see no one in or out of the squashed car My heart sinks I know what this means I later learned there were two too many in their car I feel troubled What could I have done differently?

Everyone says this happened because they weren’t buckled Though this may be true I will forever feel throttled I wish they had been buckled

Do you see Row? Ana Sofia Victoria Moreno For years she sat in the median strip separating two opposing lanes Lawn chair under the shade of a rainbow cover Heavy face of Cepillin makeup disguised her scars of age And her grubby apron marked the years in the streets She would smile & pray for you just until the light said go I held at a distance never gave a second thought to Row Yet with a prayer she left an eye open for detail Then came the man on Peoria Ave. Clothes turning from black to brown in two weeks Turning, twisting, throwing, flipping his cardboard sign Pointing straight at me “Smile,” it said, “the world is beautiful, I'd like to believe.”

Driving past I see them, we all do Part of the city's panorama Heavy bags, wearing drags, standing, waiting Like an abandoned landpost Making a scene, statement, using drama Just for someone to notice, to look, to give time, attention Do you see him now?

As a person not as another percent Look around, can you really not see?

Get a job Row! Take the food, here take it, it's for you, smile for the tok!

I'll give my change, just a cent Leave the needle behind No action, just talk.

Can you not see the gifts the city left for Row? A city's blooming bridges, with thorns at its base, Ramps for bus stop seats, Personal home cleaning team, landscaping included!

V.I.P. tickets for jail For those fans lined up for a year at SoFi Stadium.

As thousands lined up dressed in yellow, blue & black, orange Waiting to enter, ticket at hand Row stood twelve point five miles away 50 blocks of yellow, blue & black, orange & more Praying for a ticket to life This is your last warning before sunrise Troopers only got one street at a time Never finished because by the end of the night Row grew times nine Will anyone ever get it?

Will we still turn a blind eye to Row? How did we become accustomed to this injustice oh Lord Is it not up to I and we to help our brethren?

Is it not up to our prayers to solve this?

I don't want to see Row. I want to know her, him, they Their stories and what they've got to share These eyes were opened, perhaps not enough.

Will it take for us to become Row to understand?

What will it take for us to reach out a hand.

Friendship Ride Betzy Soto

Friendship is a roller coaster ride. Going through the ups and downs in life. Making great memories through fun. Learning lessons through the tough ones. Getting to know each other more even when we argue out the door. We’ll make up eventually then laugh about it through the centuries. Our bond stays strong through the ride we both are on. Sticking together when we go through a loop; gliding through it with nothing to lose. Making bad decisions together; finding ways out of trouble in bad weather. Always having each other’s back, giving each other a little respect. I hope this roller coaster ride will never end.

Though the ride doesn’t last forever. I’ll cherish what we have left of the time together. Give each other hugs and farewells; thinking about what we will talk about next time and places we'll go whenever. For now the ride ends; we’ll soon see each other once again.

Grown Man Toby Martin

Looking up below him Curly white whiskers obscuring his face I stared at the endless names Flowing like water across the stone Rushing too fast for me to see I could read, but I didn’t see His cataract eyes welling with tears I felt, but didn’t feel The fields of graves filling those years For then I was illiterate of the jungles Friends lost, Mangled and slit All contained in the black stone-water Where he let his heart open, and face dampen

It’s Late Mary Lee

It’s late.

The moment my eyes rest, I know I will sleep The date.

It’s long changed, continuing its’ slow creep My fate.

Will I be great? Will I stay pressed?

The freight.

I felt so distressed and I’d been so stressed.

And for now I’ll just keep doing Whatever will keep me Here. And I’ll stay Here, where it’s safe.

Monday, April 4th Linley Griffin I woke up surprised, to my stomach churning like a washing machine, It's unlikely for me to experience nerves before a game But today was different, It was the championship game.

After a quiet bus ride we arrived at the Caesar Superdome arena in New Orleans, Warming up was comforting, soon all the jitters escaped my body, The emotional roller coaster was coming to an end.

Flashbacks from all the long hours dedicated in the weight room, endless practices, It was all going to pay off, we are prepared.

The arena is a surreal feeling, One I dreamed about as a little kid that I'm now living out.

Walking out from the tunnel, My heart rattled as if it were a train on tracks.

The fans chanting growing louder by each step I take, Time clock ticking down quickly, It's almost 9:20 pm ET time, Tip off.

My gaze scurrying around, It seems as if everything is in slow motion.

I slowly turn my head, The opponent's head coach, Hubert Davis clapping aggressively to his starters, North Carolina starters jumping up and down in place getting hyped, Then it's time.

We take the court.

Now it's tunnel vision.

Time for the two most powerful college basketball teams going head to head for the 2022 NCAA D1 men's basketball championship title.

Halftime hits, Kansas trudged off the court down by 15, in foul trouble.

We get to the locker room, my senior teammate tries to have a positive outlook leading the team Halftime comes to an end and we retake the court not willing to give up now.

Points start racking up, Determined to make a comeback.

In fact that's just what we did, soon the scoreboard hit even The fans for both teams nervous wrecks, The coaches trying to keep up the momentum, The players on the court blocking out distractions, putting in their all, Adrenaline rushing through the players on the bench, Everyone’s on the edge of their seat, The stadium squirming with nerves, All the thunderous commotion, Suddenly the last minutes went quiet, back and forth game.

The buzzer blares 72-69 Kansas.

A dreamlike moment, Standing at top of the podium, center court as a team, crowned national champs.

69,423 fans witnessing the momentet, Blue confetti flying all around us, Largest comeback in ncaa championship game history, First jayhawk championship win since 2008.

Seniors - Ochai Agbaji, Cam Martin, Davis McCormack, Mitch Lightfoot, We love you all and hope to see some of you return.

Pretty Flowers Vivian Miers I have a pretty bouquet of flowers all wrapped up in a box, I stumble across you not having a good day, So I say, “Take a flower”, So you have the power to fight off the sour thoughts.

Another day, Another flower, Another “Are you okay,” Another flower, Another out of harm's way, Another flower.

3, 2, 1 flowers, I’m running oh so low, I wish they were limitless, I ponder if I give you the flower so you can have the power to fight off the sour thoughts, But I want to have one flower for hope.

Hope to know that everything’s gonna be okay one day, Hope to know that I’m not gonna be a stray left on the side of the road, But I give you the flower anyway, And now I’m out of flowers, And now I’m like a vase, I’m empty.

The Misleading Smell Of Bacon Kate Warthan

The smell of the fresh-cut grass is equivalent to my mother’s coffee, The clear blue sky and spring weather signals To me that today is the perfect day for fetch.

My mother, tall and bipedalism, Took out a large yellow sphere and threw it across the lawn.

Why did she launch it all the way over there?

My legs took off before my brain did, and all the sudden I was being attracted to that sphere like two positive and negative charges of a magnet.

Bacon, that’s what the sphere tasted like- she must’ve eaten that before touching the ball.

Bacon, bacon, bacon!

My mother came to me and started scratching my beautiful golden coat, I’m pretty and she knows it.

Ugh! How rude! She took my ball away from me and threw it inside.

What kind of game is this?

Once again my legs took off before my brain was ready, and I was inside my home.

But, I was alone.

I searched for the tall human in every corner of the room.

The bathroom, food room, bedroom, big cushion area- all empty.

Her scent was faint and stopped at the front door.

I am all alone.

Once again I’m left for the rest of the day, With one thing on my to-do list: wait.

So I lay by the door, My droopy eyes and ears and sad heart all wait for that door to open.

What if it never does?

Vault of the Sky Betzy Soto

The sky; filled with secrets hidden deep inside. Like a vault closed not knowing the code. Never to be seen or looked at by others eyes. Unless you already found a way inside. If you look past what is the sky besides the clouds; beside day and night, you’ll see the beauty beneath it all. The wonders that the sky holds; it will slowly start to unfold.

How the day sky conceals the glimmering, starry night; The clouds that give us a gloomy time then disappear to reveal a bright and shiny day. Which forms into a beautiful ombre when the sun is no longer near. What hides in the vault is more than what money is worth. It's the beauty that people glance over each second, minute, hour, day, month, and year. Though the only people who will ever understand are the ones who notice each little change the sky brings.

Bitter Betrayal Jayce Ward

I pull into the parking lot in my crimson Firebird.

The breaks shrieking, my ears ringing I climb the stairs full of ambition.

The manager position has always been my mission.

Like a black bear roaming the green forest I walk from desk to desk seeing everyone is busy.

I ensure their efficiency!

Soon to be my peers no longer, I meet With my boss’ superior persuading Her to promote me to Manager which I’ve long desired.

Returning to my desk Michael Scott follows.

Revealing to me what he now knows.

“Your defiance must not go unpunished.”

My insubordination brings me to my knees.

I see now what my ambition has done.

Forgive me, Michael.

Forgive me.

Seek Peace Jayce Ward Peaceful Protestors practice their right to stand against prejudice.

The scene of mournful Americans taking up arms, holding signs to commemorate the tragic loss of an innocent soul.

Then the sun sets lower on the horizon, violence emerges as the darkness of night protects identities of the rioting mob of vigilantes, wreaking havoc on the community they live in. While covering their face they loot and destroy this place. What must compel to destroy the city they dwell? Hasn’t violence caused the horrific divide in our country today? Aren’t we called to love our enemy no matter how awful they treat me?

I know it's hard to turn the other cheek when you want to seek violence and redemption on those that cause you grief.

But we must believe that we can achieve the peace that our country needs in order strive and keep alive liberty and justice for all, no matter the color of their skin whether a stranger or kin. Because we are all Americans fighting as one for all.

What I See Toby Martin I love my chickens They came in a box Bobbing about, making their flocks Ridiculous Dandelions Fluffy fuzz balls Bumbling about in a loose tether Stepping on my face before they know better They grow strong in the blink of an eye, Marco and Midge Choco and Cherry All the rest that make me merry I have more wrinkles all the while Because they turn up My squinting smile Their dancing and peeping Bustling their nine to five Entertained by their society Everyday hustling on the lawn Bounding onto my lap Making me the poor sap Who can’t help but spoil the child Coddling their cradle Their peaceful nests and moonlight cooings Blessing me with quiet joys in my “goodnight” doings Wishing goodnight could not prepare for saying goodbye When Doctor said “the prognosis is poor” You can imagine my surprise The way they made me close Marco’s Eyes With Tears in my own One hundred seventeen dollars, 4 to spare I was left, in the air Yet again my hope was bested that blonde beast went and tested His gaping maw on the mother On that night I saw the small child An out of place orphan Undeserving of his trial Hugging him against my breast I cried I was sorry But in his eyes he had already left He couldn’t understand the Tears in my own

In just one summer the flock had faltered From Thirteen beauties to four more risks I feared the ritual and routine of it all Slaughter tears fire Mauling tears pyre Ripping and gnawing terrors growing, burning higher Smoke rising into heaven’s choir I needed to know I was no liar Chewing on the sight of so much blood So there would be Tears in my Eyes Seeing nothing beyond the bodies So many So many Dripping drops Rolling down my face How Am I supposed to crinkle my Eyes at the same grace When they still sting at the smoky trace?

It is a sin, a capital offense To laugh under the same sun Where I still burn my incense.

Hot thoughts scalding my heart And bleeding out anew As I run over wounds Again and again and again and again, And again.

The bittersweet draught of memories Scratches my throat as I pour All the poetry building on the gore Making me lame, stupidly Nothing will ever be the same I am the father to many killed And I know each name.

But I am now who I am I am, in pain I am, in love Because of the beauty Ebbing and flowing Stitching in and out of my life of days I need to try to remember Beyond this gaze This intoxicating haze That these things are worth my tears Every layer deepening my meaning Preening tomorrow for the next meetings.

The End of an Era! Cameron Clark

I run, I run But I am not fast enough I have no fancy black car to make my espace like he does I twist through the alleyways laughing as I make my escape, like a lab rat in a maze running for the cheese I can't hear, the hard rain pummels the cement like a boxer beating an opponent to death Also accompanied by Sharp wind screaming in my face as I run The night is dark…Dark as the city in which I terrorize, Gotham City Dark like the Dark knight that is chasing me down Swoop My knight drops from the darkness A Faceoff Eyes only connect physically not mentally We are very different All Black with menacing ears, gadgets, and a fancy tank Purple Suit with makeup like a clown, an old switchblade knife, and a colt 45 I laugh at the irony The first advance is made The knight moves like a chess piece, moving swiftly across the board The Dark Knight duel of death where life will be determined I of course am the card that is often forgotten But powerful if used A punch A land A block A Fall A recover Repeat 10 times over I become impatient Upset at the lack of gain or loss One must be victor And one must be the tormented loser I swipe his legs Knight stumbles The piece falls off the board Falling, Falling Until it falls no more I wait, I jump down Stair to stair I yell but no voice is heard The eerie Silence is hard on my brain, like nails on a chalkboard It all becomes quiet ghost floats upward, making the atmosphere goulish I do not understand He won’t get up to punch me some more He is still, like a baby at rest I explode in rage, boiling at my core I have killed my only friend, my only attention I am dull now, no purpose to live Batman was my life Like breathing air is for normal people

1st Place Contest Winner Found In Dreamland Alexis Padalino

I was wearing a yellow dress.

I loved the color yellow.

Until there was a thud, and his head hit the hood of my truck.

I was nauseated, hearing his bones shatter Like a billy club on concrete.

I thought he would never stand again.

And if he does die, that’s murder.

Ambulances and sirens filled my head, And it was all a blur.

The police announced something, He was alive.

I sighed, and before I could answer, A tear ran down my cheek.

I torched the dress I was wearing immediately.

And all I know is now, I can’t stand the color yellow.

2nd Place Contest Winner

Burning Dreams Kiyadi Simmons

Everything was Slow. Blurry. Quiet.

Frozen with fear and numbed by a sudden overwhelming awareness.

I tightened my grip on the shotgun.

My throat seized up I had no heartbeat. No breath.

Shots pecked and popped at the air.

A bullet stripped the haze from around me.

I screamed.

Next thing I knew, Sunshine woke me the next morning There was a haze in the air And before I could lie A gunshot shattered the air into a million jagged pieces.

And it felt like a punch to the gut.

It all happened at once At first I only stared, lying gunshot and bleeding in the street.

Numbed clear through my soul.

Only, in the end, it wasn't Until the smoke-filled northern sky and the gravity of the task I’d undertaken pulled back down again…

2nd Place Contest Winner

Into The Darkness Banks Cozby

Johnny had killed someone Killed him with a switchblade I felt creeped out “ I think I’m gonna be sick.”

We gotta get outta here We ran into the darkness I flopped down on the floor For a second I didn’t know where I was The buzzing in my ears was overwhelming I tried to get up, but I was still dizzy I had a weak realization of where I was But then, I woke up

3rd Place Contest Winner

The Ghost of the House Ryan Ross

A woman came through the door.

Her husband’s house had history.

Then she was gone.

It’s okay, I told myself.

I traced the bones of my face.

I give up.

Then the door opened.

I kept my voice calm.

That’s where I met him.

He wanted to take me.

I had no answer.

The police arrested him.

“My funeral is Thursday at six,'' she said.

I smiled wide.

Then she was gone like wind.

Depression Catherine Wynn

I am worried.

So, I keep calm at night, Quietly to Survive.

Strange stepping started.

It was like a night in jail, Sitting in a tiny space.

There was no help.

Trouble concentrating...

It is Quiet.

I closed the door.

Smoke aiming like darts.

Dark things on my mind.

Squeezing the knife, I lay there thinking.

I never did have a chance to find the end.

Quiet as a Cemetery Brody Weber

Quiet as a cemetery Murder suspect was coming Frozen with anger Skin prickled Flashlights show the whiteness of its skin Ghost of dead men Blood from my outstretched hand Handling a shotgun Trouble replaced the evening I shot it It whimpered It curved its back and cried out And loosed a demon’s shriek It wasn’t dead Ammunition distant

Shadow at Night Gabby Corley

Carousing at night Watching from overhead happy to see her It tracked her down Bullets of death followed Symptoms of migraines begin Frozen with fear far overwhelmingly scared Warm deep voice came down Dark death led to flames It whipped across her like a murder She felt the Red marks strike her Deep like Rubies Blood all across her Pain sat inside her The bloody floor smiled to the shadows Dragged to her jail

Why Love?

Khairi Finch

She had her eye on me, She had stolen my heart.

The one thing in the world worth looking at.

We wanted to take things further, Our first official day.

That’s when the trouble started.

Unshakeable truths, Tension-filled conversations, It was a disaster inside.

We were in a rough place.

An awkward trip to braum’s for a banana split after fights, best thing I’ve ever tasted.

The more we fought the worse I felt.

She never calls me by my first name; She does when she freaks out.

There were crusty patches like bad scalp but we’ll be okay.

When He Was Alive Jill Lobpries

Back when he was alive, I loved him no matter what Back when he was alive, He kissed liked an angel Slow and pleasant Back when he was alive, His eyes excited me, As they were colored bright and strong.

Back when he was alive, He’d look at me like he was in love Back when he was alive, His voice was good and safe Back when he was alive, He was the most trustworthy boy I won’t let go of him

Editor’s Note: Middle school submissions for April came from other works of fiction in the form of found poetry. Students crafted these poems from pieces of text taken from novels they studied in class, forming new works.