Fountain of Youth Melissa Swanson
She leads
And
bids
— Second Place
Winner
me to the fountain of youth me drink and bathe
In its cool waters.
"You "You
are young," she says. will never be as beautiful as
you
are today."
She cups her hands and drinks, Splashes it on her skin, Pours it over her body and lifts her face
I
gaze
at the
pool with a narrowed eye.
The waters
are dark and strange;
Their odor
bums
I
And
my nose. my lips
in
touch the cup to taste deceit.
So I Stood Tliere Mindy Townsend — Third Place Winner
So stood there. Watched. Hoping he would look at me Hoping he would not. His voice wrapped around me I
Like wind. Listened. Couldn't move, wouldn't leave, rooted. I
felt
unraveled inside.
A gate I
broke, and
I
was
flooded.
was drowning because of him.
in ecstasy.
