Poetry

I’m Lost in a Book

Anonymous

“I wanted to try and describe the feeling of reading a good book and being able to imagine everything, then going back to real life.”

I’m Lost in a Book

I’m lost in a book.

A winding trail, branching out forever,

like a fragile, clear dream, a glass galaxy.

The words are worldly windows, black and white patterns forming all the colors of the spectrum,

squiggles on a page that fits in the palm of my hand,

but could envelop the world.

I’m lost in a book.

A journey through imagination,

watching someone else’s ideas, following along from beginning to end,

like an invisible traveller on the road of the story.

I’m lost in a book.

It’s the world someone made from their own mind,

silent, but the sounds ring in my ears for hours.

It’s not like a trap or a fake reality.

It’s there but not there - a mirror.

I’m lost in a book.

All by myself,

when something brushes against my leg.

It’s the dog, in the veiled world beyond the book, lifting the mist as the book’s spell is broken.

Nightfall

By: Joshua Turja

This poem is about my thought process during the night. It’s anything but restful. And like the writer that I am, I have to make you guys feel my pain.

Nightfall

The moon comes to life,

and sanity starts to die.

Darkness comes to light,

and demons come to sight.

Suffocating isolation that’s never quite alone. The dark itself an entity, a hooded apparition drags it claws across my brain.

Hovering above a dream but never quite asleep.

As I watch the backs of my eyes and you rest just fine, remember me I am supposed to be a poet.

A restless writer who’s supposed to pen the pain away.

I’ll never be what I can write,

just another soul who's lost his mind in the darkness of the night.

A pointless existence.

A meaningless resistance.

There's no point in trying when we’re already dead,

And you and me, we got guns to our heads.

I couldn't sleep when I was alive, maybe when I close my eyes for the final time, I can drift into a dream.

The Battle of War and Love

Courtney Whitlow and Kimmy Van

“We submitted this piece because we both like to do these backwards poems. We think that the backwards poems sound unique, and they are a harder piece to write and they take time.

Our poem is about the differences in war and peace. It creates a sense of the reality of the world and then in reverse, it tells the readers the truth of how we can make it a better place without violence.”

The Battle of War and Love

A rivalry

between good and bad;

war and love are

a cause of tension.

War is

creating new joy.

Love is

destruction.

War makes

us happy.

Love makes

us weak.

Violence makes

us stronger.

Getting hurt makes

us fail.

Giving up makes

us powerful.

Finding solutions makes

nothing better.

War makes

a future.

(now read from bottom to top)

Aleksandar Radisa

"This is about the journey of a leaf.

I wrote this to bring inspiration to people"

The Leaf

As I dangle from the branch

that's dangling from the towering

time Holding on to everything

I have hoping that the wind won't

blow me away.

I'm not strong enough the

Invisible force sends me afloat

the air.

I'm flying to a terrible fate,

passing many of my friends and

Family but not being able to say goodbye.

Landing hard on the ground again, now being pushed down a long stream-a long journey smashing into rocks and sticks.

Now finally out of the water and back on water and back on my terrible journey trying to stay strong.

Being blown by the wind now under my family tree saying goodbye now turning brown and curling up thinking of my great life.

-Aleksandar Radisa

Identity

Cecile Bourgoyne

“I submitted this poem because I wanted people to relate to it, and to interpret it in any way they want to. This poem has a meaning, but not necessarily a specific one, and that’s why I want people to interpret it in their own way. In my poem, I explain what it was like to go through an “identity crisis”, meaning when you’re having trouble figuring out your identity. With experience, I was able to display in my idea of the best way possible to explain what’s it’s like to go through a time like that. I got through it, and I know others will too.

This poem means a lot to me, and I have never written one like it, but It spoke to me in a strong way, so hopefully it will to others, too.”

Identity

By Cecile Bourgoyne

I ventured through rapids,

through rivers, through seas,

to find the one thing that I had lost in the dangerous

depths of my mind.

I was ashamed, I was mortified

I felt ignorant for the situation I had made for myself,

but what I did not realize was I

never claimed it in the first place.

In the middle of my journey, I stopped to think,

What am I searching for?

I remembered, and I started again.

But where is it?

Important, it is, yes,

but when did I need it?

If the present is now the past,

then how important is the present?

The word was frightening to my sight,

a flaming ball, but only I had the power to put it out.

But when I looked at my map and the marks I had made,

I knew who I was.

I could not thank myself, nor my mind,

I could only thank the people and

moments I had made along the way,

and the painful, precious journey

that brought me to my destination.

I returned to my peace, as the war has died,

The trees rustled along with my heart,

they sang in harmony,

and my mind could rest.

Friendship, a Delicate Thing

By Aliah Dowling

"This poem is about love and betrayal that I have experienced with some old friends. The poem has my true feelings when my old friendships fell apart. This poem has a deep meaning and is close to my heart. When those friendships fell apart I wanted nothing more than to find someone new to fill that hole in my heart. "   

Friendship, a Delicate Thing

No one knows why it’s there,

No one knows it’s reason,

But we all know we need it.

A smile, a laugh, a caring glance

A warm arm to stop the tears

A great dance of love through your heart,

An angered glare at the person who hurt you

A smile that comforts you through your tears.

A comforting hug to help you grieve

A comforting grin to help you through death

Hard situations, heartbreak

Once you lose this, your world comes crashing down around you

You don’t know what to do,

Without that light in your life

You’re lost, no where to go.

But don’t fret,

You’ll find friendship again in your life.

Another warm smile,

another dance of love,

don’t worry, if they hurt you,

they didn’t deserve your heart to break.

If they made you cry, they didn’t deserve your friendship in the first place.

A crack in the sidewalk doesn’t prevent you from continuing down the road,

Neither does a person who broke your heart,

and sure, you’ll be hung up on it for a while

but you’ll push through the pain,

the sorrow,

the sea of tears.

In the darkness,

Is someone willing to be your friend.

Willing to hold you close in the cold pain,

willing to hold you in the time you need it the most.

The Shadow Man

Anonymous

"Inspiration came to me in the form of a shadow."  

The Shadow Man

He stalks in  the shadows of the dark in the night and he helps the victims of the shadows. He is there for the ones that have lost all hope, for the ones who are chained into the shadows stuck there in the darkest hours he is there to lift you into the light of the sunrise.

The Masses

-Joshua Turja

“This poem is about the struggle between individuality and society. I wrote this because I always felt pressure to conform. But when I write I don't have to conform, I wanted to share that feeling with other people.”

The Masses

Bound by conformity,

lured by popularity,

tempted by normality,

enticed by sanity.

Phantoms chant to join the dead.

Mobs scream to enter the masses.

The voices fade into a horde in the back of my mind,  a distant, haunting song.

But you don’t know my soul like you know my face.

I could write for you but this one’s for us.

A war between individuality, conformity, normality, and nagging thoughts. It won’t stop without the attention it’s been  deprived  off.

A crippling pressure weighing down my thoughts .

A beam of sun through the clouds.

A shard of hope in your heart.

A fire in your eyes, fueled by personality.

The fight against mob mentality,

and we lead it.

Go Inside of a Kite

-Rachel Warren

“My poem is a personification poem where I dive into the idea of existing within an inanimate object.”

Go Inside of a Kite

I would like to go inside of a kite.

To feel free as a bird,

the weight taken off my shoulders.

I want to fly through the sky,

with no worries or doubts about how I am going to get down.

I want to go inside of a kite to live in the moment.

Carefree and adventurous.

To let the wind carry me,

lifting me higher and higher.

To be one with the brilliant blue sky.

So that I can learn to love life,

and everything that it has to offer.

But the freedom will come to an end,

I will be pulled down by the string that holds me to this Earth.

One day, the wind will die down, I will come crashing down,

getting tangled in a tree.

Unable to get down, I will be forgotten.

The elements will attack me.

Little parts of me will break away,

running in the wind.

The Smile that Warmed the World

The ball pounded down the slick court -

shoes screeched against the polished wood.

(A fork scratching a plate.)

She moved so fast, time stood still.

My eyes gleamed with excitement.

If Mackenzie had the ball,

the crowd wouldn’t be disappointed

Mac shot the ball with perfect form,

Her fingers limp

Guiding the ball to the target.

As the crowd roared -

she flashed a smile filled with joy

And her opponents couldn't help but stare in awe.

This is what packed these wooden bleachers

What made the crowd go wild.

She embraced me in a hug

Game after game,

Win after win.

Something I looked forward to,

to hear the encouragement  

of the person who inspired me most.

Touching my heart,

telling me “It's not how big you are, but how big you play.”

I should never have let that motivation astray.

Mackenzie, the all star basketball player

With a smile that warmed your heart

And a genuine ability to make you  feel special

was gone too soon.

(like a gift that was snatched from your grasp)

Months of sorrow and shock,

Of questioning why this world is so cruel.

But she is still my motivator.

I can feel her with me,

urging me on

Mackenzie has touched many lives with her pure heart,

And I know her inspiration will never be gone.

-Anonymous

Autumn Daybreak

By: Eliyah Bales

This poem is written to show what an Autumn morning looks like and smells like for those who don’t get to see that. It expresses the feeling you have when you go outside after a night’s rain and how fresh and beautiful it is when the sun is rising.

Autumn Daybreak

A brisk, Autumn breeze gently blows and a crisp, organic fragrance fills the air.

Dew relaxes on the grass and the bright morning sun casts a melancholy glow on cold, deadly fog.

Water droplets sleep on vibrant colorful flower buds.

Trees cast a gloomy, somber shadow down the rocky, dirt pathway.

Red, yellow, and orange leaves travel across the country,

Blown by a frosty, morning breeze.

Already, birds tweet a cheerful song of joy,

And chipmunks get busy collecting acorns.

Where I’m From

Melanie Matthews

“I’m very proud of my writing and I thought that I could share a little piece of my life with the readers of the magazine.

My poem is about my life, my memories, family, traditions, and more. I hope you enjoy it.”

Where I’m From

I am from slip n slides, inflatable pools,

squirt gun fights, and 90 degree heat that drained my energy.

From Pina Colada slushies, homemade ice cream,

to red and blue otter pops,

and the oogey gooey s'mores I can’t resist.

I am from family camping trips, National Park Junior Ranger badges,

playing outside, and collecting sticks in the woods for the fire.

From watching marshmallows catch fire, and watching them burn,

the sweet sugary treat being invaded by the flames and embers,

crackling, expanding, and the smell of smoke in our hoodies.

From the backyard tree hose,

spraying us with tiny droplets from above, like a handmade rain cloud.

From the jumping in the bounce house,

almost touching the baby blue sky.

From competitions with my sisters, and backyard games.

Frisbee, tag, and hide and go seek.

From 4th of July fireworks and glow sticks.

I am from giant leaf piles, red rakes, deer, and candy.

From Halloween, group costumes, and sorting our candy.

From the camping gnome, and hiking in the field, the prickly plants scratching my legs.

I am from hot chocolate, chai tea, and my mom’s birthday.

From snowmen, sledding in the field, and wishing for a white Christmas.

From Elves on the Shelf, Holly, Jolly, Buddy, and Beau.

From waking up with Crayola faces, and seeing their little, lovable, kind, but evil grins.

I am from decorating the tree, fighting over the star, and watching my neighbor’s light show.

From the Christmas Light Geek, holiday legos, and cookies for Santa.

Carrots for the reindeer, and seeing Rudolph’s nose.

From making lists, and checking them twice, waking up early, and keeping our eyes closed tight.

I am from new year’s eve, watching the ball drop, party hats,

and crying because of the party horns’ circus horn squeak.

From my sister’s birthday, and celebrating valentines day.

I am from April showers, and May flowers.

From failed gardens, and disappearing tulips.

From back to school photos, and school supply shopping, with accidentally colored hands.

I am from memories,

From Scooby Doo, Little People, Barbies, and neighborhood gatherings for the space station.

From sled rides down the street, watching “America’s Got Talent”

and many scrapbooks filled with photos.

From “Under the Covers”, “I love you” and “Don’t give up”.

I am from love and family,

Who I’ll never forget.

Haiku's of Nature and Life

Eli Hitchcock

“I wrote this piece because I wanted to get out some of my beliefs about life and nature in a creative way.”

Haiku's of Nature

Eli Hitchcock

Nature was given

for all of us to drink in.

Let's keep it that way.

Indescribable,

like a small glimpse of Heaven.

Beautiful nature.

Waterfalls and trees;

Where you can find solitude,

Thinking-daydreaming.

Where we can realize

what a perfect life is like,

just by observing.

The beauty of life,

explained when we are outside.

Nature start and end.

Haiku's of Life

Eli Hitchcock

Life is a surprise

Like an erratic roller coaster

We can’t know what's next.

What’s it all about?

An imperative question;

Unanswerable.

We wonder and Dream

Of who we will end up as-

Up to you and me

Imagination

It’s the power we possess;

Stronger than all else.

Where you used to be

And where you’re going to go;

Antipodean.

Life’s a game we play

No wins just us and the World

Now and forever.

We are all alive

But some of us are living

Are you one of them?

The Mountains

Aleksandar Radisa

“I wrote this to bring a peaceful setting and relaxation to people.  This about nature and the circle of well being.”

The Mountains

Sun says,

I rise over the mountains

releasing the

immense dark

cloud of night.

Mountains say,

Thank you sun

for enveloping

my plants and

animals with sunlight.

Plants and Animals say,

Thank you mountains

for trickling water from

your towering peaks.

Snow says,

Thank you rain for

pouring on the peaks.

Rain says,

Thank you clouds

for bringing us warm

weather.

Cloud says,

Thank you sun for

Vanishing  long

enough so the rain

can freeze into snow

- for melting the

snow that lays on

the tall peaks into

water - providing for

plants and animals.

Sun says,

Your welcome.

Aleksandar Radisa

QWERTYUIOPASDFGHJKLZXCVBNM

What is qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm?

It is, “I am bored.”

It means the teacher is going on and on or giving instructions.

It means the class is silently typing.                                 

Qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm is the sound of a finger being

dragged across a keyboard.

It is a sign: a sign that you are boring.

You should never have to type qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm.

If you are so bored that you refuse to type what is asked of you,

stay clear of qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm.

You have unpressed keys right in front of you.

Imagine all of the possible unwritten words, unwritten sentences, and unwritten stories

that are waiting to take form.

Go write something better than 26 letters in keyboard order.

Go write something that someone will want to read.

-Anonymous

Morelson Hilldale

Inside a plane:

I would like to go inside a plane

To be free and to see,

The earth under me.

Traveling the sky,

from point A to point B,

Is the one job for me.

I would like to go inside a plane,

To travel at high speeds.

Endurance is needed, as gas is depleted

I would like to go inside a plane

To be free and to see.

Where I’m From

I decided to submit my Where I’m From poem because I really enjoy the way it turned out. I was really proud about the fact that I was able to tell the reader about who i am besides what they see on the surface. This poem was the first thing that popped in my head to submit to the magazine. I was really excited to show more than just my second period class who I was.

Where I’m From

By: Shahin Ahmad

I am from عائلتك يحبك، دائما

(Your family loves you, always.)

From grabbing whatever was put in front of me and using it as hair gel.

From being the 3-year-old that locked her mom out of the house.

And causing the police to come and search our home.

I am from having the literal meaning of “take a picture, it lasts longer”.

Owning about 5 full photo albums that I like to check often.

And growing up with the smell of incense sticks and old candles always being lit.

I’m from not growing up with a dad...

But having 8 other people helping fill that gap!

I’m from getting in trouble for being outside on the playground next door all day,

And making great memories with all my friends at our local community center.

أنا من المكان الأكثر تميزا على الأرض

(I am from the most memorable place on Earth)

انا من العراق

By anonymous

I am from a small

tiny state called Connecticut

I am from dirty oceans

Oceans of sin and disgust

I am from a car, traveling 2000 miles in 2 days

A rough and bumpy road I must say

Along the way getting blasted by a sun ray

I am from relief of coming home

Yet I’m so far away

Adding a new chapter of my life                         

Called, “Welcome to Colorado, the best state.”

I am from the happy smells

Of my mom’s world's best cookies

Soft as a blanket, taste of an angel

Eating them, enjoying them

I am from a race track

The smell of nitrous and burning rubber

Eating a snow cone, watching in disbelief

Seeing a car wreck, frightened, not knowing what’s next

I am from a long drive, maybe 300 miles

Seeing metal flying through the air

One man dead, while he’s flying up into the air

For no one deserves to die when they’re 23

I am from now

Have had a broken thumb

And a married sister and 2 little ones

Seen lots of awful things

I am from the future, somewhere far, far away

Hopefully a life that’ll be made

Some place, somewhere that’ll be happy

A family of fun and joy

I am from a small little state

I am from dirty oceans

Oceans of sin and disgust

I am from a car, traveling 2000 miles in 2 days

A rough and bumpy road I must say

Along the way getting blasted by a sun ray

This is where I’m from

From then, now and soon to be, the FUTURE

Inside a Cloud

I would like to go inside a cloud.

To see what it’s like so high in

the immense sky.

To smash into other clouds

making one enormous one.

To create roaring thunder and

dynamic lighting splitting the sky.

To sail the world with the big

gust of wind that blows me from place to place.

To make tears for all the kids to splash around in,

to give the city's water, to give plants and

animals water so they may thrive.

To travel the world giving joy. I'd

love to be a cloud.

Inside the sky

I would like to go inside the Sky.

To carry white puffy shapes from place to place.

To bring the sun, hot and yellow, to the green grass below.

To bring white blankets that cover the terrain.

To soar the blue enveloping

everyone in happiness and

joy.

Inside the sun

I would like to go inside the Sun.

To give the light of day to the world and

all of its companions.

To make the vault of heaven blue.

To pleasantly wrap the earth in  my glorious sunshine.

To give plants, animals, and cities water so

they may all flourish and thrive.

        Aleksandar Radisa

By: Rylee Matson

Black Crow

The poem, Black Crow, that I wrote about was written from inspiration that I found when I went out walking one day and  I saw a Black Crow on a fence.  

Black Crow

You have been egotistical for too long that your feathers have been fading into tethered twine full of implications and lies.

Your ignorance is imperfect.

Your sense of direction will never be gained but always be lost in the making.

You are unwanted.

Queen Bee is flying off.

The sound of your mocking makes others want to cringe.

Fly to where you belong, not with Queen Bee nor Bear.

Fly away little Black Crow. Fly far, far away, above the blue mountain majesty.

You have blinded Queen Bee and her workers by who you really are.

You appear to be innocent on the outside, but you don’t know who you are on the inside.

Fly away little Black Crow.

Queen Bee won’t be there when you fall from social grace.

Fly away and never return.

Where I’m From

This is about my dad and how friends can turn into enemies in 2 seconds.

By: Markis Cordova

Oye papá lo hice sin ti

I am from the border and the crying river,

From the runaway person I’m supposed to call Dad,

From the do this and do that,

The friends that pick me up, and let me fall.

I am from the clock ticking,

And the bell ringing,

From the talking wind, singing a song in my ear.

By: Brayden Newberg

Blurb

My piece is about how I feel about people and myself over all in our modern society with others.

Excerpt

I am quiet and silent.

I don’t like attention.

Because where there are people-

there are problems.

Who I Am

Like fresh raspberries,

I'm sometimes sour and sometimes sweet.

I'm a gamble you'll have to take.

I am quiet and silent.

I don’t like attention,

because where there are people

there are problems.  

I am adventurous and curious.

I won't ask too many questions,

Because I don't want to be embarrassed.

But I will always do what's mandatory.

I am your favorite book sealed and locked,

hidden by tricks and talks,

and possibly some posture.  

Go into a TV

By: Joel Kasibante

I made this poem about a TV, because a TV has many channels with many different emotions just like me as a person.

I would like to go into a TV.

Not to be watched, but to bring entertainment.

My many channels would bring joy to people.

I can be funny,

I can be mad

And I’m filled with many emotions.

I make people happy.

I entertain

Everywhere around the world.

I am Entertainment,

I am joy.