Not Society

By Stephanie Reynolds

You have opinions

About my opinions

About my hair

About my skin

When I do what is comfortable I’m an outcast When I don’t, I’m a foe to self

If I follow, then I’ll be looked as a follower If I lead with my thoughts, I’m judged

Why should I do what is uncomfortable to please you Who and what decides what makes me-me Not society.

My Mother

By: Zailor Blanks

My mother is my everything to me, she can do anything

She is my real life superhero. Whenever I need help, she is always there for me. When I was sick, she did everything she could to make me better.

All of my childhood memories are filled up with beautiful things she did for me. Taking us on picnics in the park. She helped me stop being afraid of the dark. I love my mother with my whole heart

As a single mother, tell me how she did it? Raising 5 kids on her own is hard. But she always knew how to stand her guard. There's no words to express how I feel I’m just thankful that she kept it real.

When clouds were gray She showed me the way She showed me right from wrong And that grew our bond strong I love you, Mother!

The Mask

by Jalissa Cuello

So many truly wear a mask for certain reasons While other just try to hide behind it Many take off their mask and act differently from the person with the mask Taking off a mask can lead to expected and unexpected peoples

Never once I thought to take my mask off It covers so much of me that I didn’t want no one to see Not only will people see; they will judge Even though that's just how life is now

The constant breeze of air hitting your lip coming from your nose More and more anxious you become The more ones true form comes out from the mask It was never because of looks or fear of sickness; It was more than that

I’ve counted the days until I wanted my mask gone forever I wanted to impress people, without all the attention I didn’t like when the eyes stared back It felt as if they would cave on me like In the presence of those waiting

Another day of school hits you with many thoughts Wanting to be liked, wanting to be good enough People are mean inside and out They only seem to take their masks off For love ones or certain people

The heart beats loud as though everyone can hear

The constant stares and constant judgments lead you to think We should keep the masks on a little longer But the time has come when you feel the breeze of the outside air And finally relieved as every thought leaves your mind. You did it, you finally took your mask off.

Uncertain Mind

Madelyn Huox

I have no idea what to write

I have no idea what to do

But this is how my brain works

Sometimes it shuts off Sometimes it never does

My mind goes blank once it shuts off I can’t think of anything I can’t focus on anything anymore

Everything disappears and I am left with nothing Nothing but what is in front of me

And even then I can’t seem to focus on that

Everything is worse when my mind never shuts off Once the spiral starts it never stops

The little voice in my head never stays quiet It keeps rambling on until I fall asleep

Not once does it take a break

All my focus is on the annoying voice

No work gets done either way One way or another I am distracted

I am left with a blank mind Or too full of a mind

And still I have no idea what to write No idea what to do

Girls Love Food on Their Period

By Sabrina De Leon

From sweet to salty, we crave it all Our appetite fluctuates like a bouncing ball We search for comfort in every bite As we ride the waves of mood swings all night.

One minute it's chocolate, the next it's chips

We eat like there's no tomorrow, finishing platefuls and dips Our cravings take over, we cannot resist The urge to indulge, we simply persist.

On our periods, food is our best friend It eases the pain of cramps, a means to an end We devour it all, without a care With food by our side, we have no fear to bear.

So let us eat, and eat some more We'll munch away until our bellies sore For food is the key to a happy heart Even in times when we are tearing ourselves apart.