Goodbye

Goodbyes are the last few pages of a story.
Auburn hearts break as the words are seen, scribbled on a note, never received.
Feel shattering emotions course through as you taste the salt of your tears.
Hear it sizzle in your mouth just the same as words unspoken.
They will eat you alive.
They may even set you free.
Reuniting is a beautiful thing.
"I'll see you on the other side."
My Stockholm Syndrome kicks in as we leave Earth, hand in hand.
Flying with the pink flamingos among the purple sky, we'll make it this time.
Iridescence will show her true colors, stop and smell the roses.
À plus tard.
Goodbye is the tear-filled last page of happiness, but we'll make it this time.

-A.H.

*You hear beating on your tent when you are out on the beach. What is it?

I've set up a green tent right along the shoreline and I can hear what sounds like little hands hitting the tent. Baby stars like to venture down on the beach I've heard so I decided to press my luck and try to experience it myself. It was about 12 o'clock when I heard what sounded like puppy yawns and soft thuds against my tent. The little stars decided to pay me a visit.

Kell

20 things in my head

I am my own king
In 1987 the kings won the Stanley cup
The savory sweet flavor mixed with the old timey stove felt rough under my fingers and fire crackled.
The lake was a cold sight.
Sacramento Is the home of the Kings
Although the year they actually won was 1999
Even though Kobe passed MJ in all time points
I ain't got the time do this
If you bite a squirrel it will eat an apple
Shotcraztenlattopitto
The green elephant was like carpet.
The room covered in black lit up with the lights of the eyes.
Helen Keller will never know what Morgan freeman sounds like
Brady is always running us late.
I will never die
My blue elephant is amazingly fast
If tomorrow is Tuesday and we like pie then we will udderly cry
Me gusta
My tv cried in anger as it powered down.
The salty pie eats it's own words amps it is burned and has a bad taste rather than the amazing aroma.

Mr. dodge

Vacation~

My time going to Keystone this past March was one I'll never forget. It wasn't the most extravagant trips this world has ever seen but it was one that had some of the best memories. For instance, the 9hour drive down packed with a van full of girls was the loudest vehicle probably on that interstate. Though the past eight hours driving to Colorado were loud, the last hour was spent gazing at all the beautiful mountains that we saw while stuck in a traffic jam. Passing through all the small little towns was very interesting! There were houses in places you'd never would see houses at in Nebraska. Each small village had their own little cafe to eat at and about five other houses you'd call your neighbor. These villages were all just alike, except the town we passed through just before arriving at our condo. When we got to our condo we unpacked all the food from all the various vehicles that carpooled. Girls went and unpacked in one room while the guys unpacked in another. Then when we realized we were in the wrong room we packed up again and drug all our belonging to the correct room. The first night we just spent unloading and relaxing in our condos. By morning we were all ready to hop on the next bus carrier to go down the mountains. Some people got up super early to hit the slopes, but me, I slept in. I was probably tired from the rough cold floor that kept me up, since all the adults got all the comfy warm beds. Since the boys got most of the food, I got up and went over to the boys room to get some breakfast and I was all ready to snowboard for the very first time. Olivia and I had gained enough confidence to try snowboarding, but the only thing we didn't realize was that we needed to take ski class before we ever tried snowboarding. So me and Olivia had to pay extra for ski classes (that we didn't want to take), wait two hours for our scheduled appointment, and take a day and a half of our ski trip in ski class. The whole time I was thinking, "Man, I wish I could be snowboarding with everybody else. Even if I may fall down the entire time." But I stayed in class, and learned on the bunny slopes. Once we got past all the unnecessary tips and tricks, that night I took Justin Lees skiing pass and I hit a blue slope for the very first time. I honestly was kind of scared, just because I kept thinking that it was going to be a drop off, but once I got asked to prom with a bunch of shirtless guys, I didn't care about the blue. The hardest part was the ski lift for me.. Haha. I don't know why, but I could NOT land the ski lift, and people probably figured I was the worst snowboarder ever but no, the ski lift just got to me. I literally dreaded just going on the ski lift, but I loved snowboarding! After I finished my first blue, I wanted more! I might have caught onto some things by watching Matt biff it a lot and Joe about run into a tree because I obviously took their tips and decided to sprain my tailbone. But at least Olivia was getting most of the guys attention by falling down the whole time. She probably spent most of her time going down the mountain on her butt while I went on my face. But overall snowboarding was the best first experience ever!
-FYI $13 mozzarella sticks may not sound worth it.. BUT THEY ARE.

ES

Christmas

In my house you immediately yell "HONEY IM HOME!" Even if your not my honey.
You always bring cookies and frosting for me because you know that's what I like.
Parking is a hassle because you must not park near the grass. 
And if it's snowing you must sit with me and watch it while we watch Christmas movies and make paper snowflakes. 
If it's near Christmas don't forget to bring me a present!
I promise to always have hot chocolate ready as well as some type of cookie.
And I have a jar that you can pick a candy cane out of to stir up your hot chocolate. 
If there is snow remember to bring warm things because we will go outside to go sledding and have a snowball fight.
If I'm putting up my Christmas tree you may help, but not too much because it's mine...and besides you have your own! 
Remember to always bring my dog and treat and in return he will give you a kiss.
And if you would like to stay up all night watching scary movies with me that would be amazing because I am a baby when it comes to scary movies.
  You will probably have to listen to me talk a lot because I have a lot to say...so be prepared.
Oh and don't forget to bring your slippers to wear around.
Oh and Christmas music will always be playing so sing along!

JW

A Big Day

The beautiful white dress on the bride.  The fancy tuxedo on the nervous yet excited groom.  The groom standing at the altar waiting for his bride to come to him.  Flowers bright up a full church.  When did we start doing all of this?  Customs and traditions are everywhere we look.

Covering our shoulders in Church is a custom we have followed for a very long time.  Many of the things  we do in one Church service are customs.  Do you take off your shoes when you enter your house? That is a custom.  Every day is a big day full of customs.  Having a certain food during a specific holiday is a custom.  Celebrating the holidays we do is a custom.  Customs and traditions make up a lot of our everyday lives.

SAT

The Shot of a Lifetime

Chuggin' up the pasture
"Please oh please let me get a deer," I pray
Almost to the hill, so close
This Chevy isn't really doing it's job.

I ask dad why he's driving so slow
"Good things come with time," he says
Having my 243 gun by my side
And Dad's 270 next to mine.

I run my freezing fingers across the barrel of my gun
It's my own, it really is!
We get to our mini, magical, mount to hunt
Windows rolled down to keel the fog out.

Four in the morning, freezing my butt off
Don't step in the snow, it's just too beautiful
I check my phone to see how much time has passed,
Three minutes, man, this is going to be a long day!

I look to my left and see a phenomenal sunrise
To my right, I motion a 9x9 buck
About sixty yards away!
This is the shot of a lifetime!

Taking out my gun, safely,
I exit the pickup and put my gun on the toolbox to shoot
I aim and shoot,
The buck goes down and dies a horribly, fantastic death
This is going to be a great season!


ALS

That one day

         There he stood, a very large man, he was watching the sunrise over the hill. Drinking his warm coffee, black, no sugar and no creamer just a strait black French roast that had a sweet smell, vanilla. He stood there sipping it letting out a sigh, not of disappointment but as happiness, like it was a small slice of heaven. Then he turned around, I didn't know at first who it was but I haven't seen him in years, not since third grade, the only memories I had I lived through old pictures and talk with my parents about him.
        "Grandpa is that you" I said as he turned around and even before he could get a word out I was there, I just sat there I couldn't hug him hard enough. He said no words just put his hands around me and gave me a good tight squeeze. I was never happier than that moment, I could feel the tears cascading down my cheeks but I didn't care. I was with grandpa, he was here with me I didn't want to ever let go again.
        "Hey there bud," he said with a wide grin "how have you been. It's been forever since we talked hasn't it." I didn't say a word I just sat there I stared the tears still running down my face. I just sat there and stared not knowing what to do, I just stared. He stared back and didn't say anything else.
        Later on, we talked for a bit I talked about football and my school stuff. He talked about what it was like in heaven, and the memories he had of me and him at the lake. We sat for a while and talked some more then he stood up and started walking.
        "Grandpa, what's wrong, where are you going." I said my voice quivering
     "I'm sorry bud I have to go its time I need to go back." And in a little flash of light he was gone. I look up in the sky and see a twinkle, a small little smug across the sky. Then I crumpled into a ball and cried, just cried.

Ceratotherium simum

Bummer of a Stay

It was late and we didn’t have a place to stay yet.  We were driving all over this big city looking for a room.  We were hotel hunting.  It was late, or at least it felt like it was, but I wasn’t tired, I wanted to swim in a pool at a hotel.  I love swimming; there’s just something about it that suits me.  Anyway, I was sitting in my seat in the van outside of probably the fifth hotel that we were trying, waiting for my mom to come out and give us the nod or head shake.  I waited very patiently despite my feeling of desperately wanting to swim.  Finally, after what seemed like hours, my mom came out very excited to tell us that she had just got us a hotel room for only 67 dollars!  She said they have a heated pool and it’s open for another hour too!  It was obviously going to be a great night.
    We gathered our suitcases and made the walk inside and down the hall to the left and into our room for the night.  As each one of us entered to room we instantly felt dry warm air rush over us.  After about two minutes I could see sweat trickling down my dad’s forehead and mom had went to go tell the person at the front desk that the air conditioner was broken in our room.  Dad took his shirt off and plopped down on the bed with the tv remote and clicked the power button once.  Twice.  Three times.  Then he got up and tried clicking the power button on the old box tv.  Once again, nothing happened.  Mom came back into the room just to be told that the tv doesn’t work either, along with the air conditioner and a lamp that Jesse had tried to turn on after first entering the room.  I really didn’t care that nothing seemed to work in the room though because all I wanted to do was go swimming.  I didn’t care for the heat though, it felt like a sauna in there.
    Mom left to go back to the front desk to complain again and returned shortly after I got my swimming trunks on.  Even though she was very angry with how this hotel turned out, she put a smile on her face, took my hand, and led me down the hall to the glass door at the very end to let me go swimming.  We proceeded to the edge of the somewhat dark pool and I bent my leg to stick my toe in.  Brrrrr!  The water was ice cold!  My mom tested it too and she agreed that it was freezing.  Good thing they had a hot tub!  My mom and I continued on to the edge of the hot tub.  It was a good amount clearer than the pool and looked promising.  Then we saw it.  On the bottom of this cozy-looking hot tub was a pile of light brown poop.  But it wasn’t what you just pictured in your mind.  This poop was different.  The reason it was different was because it didn’t look like poop.  Someone had let it go down there on the bottom of that hot tub and left it be.  It had been there for so long that it had disintegrated and was now a pile of tiny pieces of a bigger poop.  Nasty.
My mom didn’t even let me test the water in the hot tub because we were gone and oh was she mad.  She took me back to the room and told the rest of the family to pack up because we were going to stay somewhere else.  There were absolutely no objections and we were out of there in less than five minutes.  We waited in the van while mom had a talk with the man at the front desk.  I remember feeling sorry for that man because I bet he was sure getting a butt chewing.  We left that hotel and found a room at a pretty expensive hotel for the night.  At the end of it all,  I remember my mom saying she is never going to get a cheap hotel room again, and we all agreed that that would be a good idea.

JZ

Holiday Tradition

I have a very specific tradition for every holiday event with my father's side of the family. My cousins and brothers and I always always ALWAYS play sports. Outside, no matter the weather. The colder the better, in fact. When I say sports I obviously mean either football or basketball. As for the teams, they are permanently set as follows: myself and my older cousin Thomas vs. my older brother John and Thomas' little brother Matthew. It's actually a  pretty close matchup. Thomas and I are far better athletes than our adversaries, yet we try to show off a little, which ultimately gives John and Matthew a chance to win. I might try a sick alley oop pass to Thomas that'll get stolen, or a crazy lateral that might result in a turnover. It's great fun, and after the game we all go inside and enjoy some of Grandma's cookies and..... Oreo dessert.

                 Kennedy

 

The Other Side

I am a morning bird,
She is a night owl.
I can wake up at at dawn and be ready for anything,
She wakes up at noon and stays to see the sun rise again.
I can last only going on a few hours of sleep,
She can sleep all morning and stay up all night.
I am wide awake while eating breakfast,
She is groggy until lunch.
I love being at home,
She dreads coming back to this small town.
I borrow and return,
She steals without asking.
I like when my life is in place,
She loves when her's is out of order.
I am proper,
She burps in public.
I never swear,
But she has the mouth of a sailor.
I love books,
But she prefers to watch the movie.
I like coming to school,
But she must motivate herself to be there.
Grades are important,
She could care less.
I know where I want my life to go,
She has no clue.
I follow the rules,
She ignores them.
I do what I want,
She does what she's told.
She likes feeling secure,
I'd rather be free.
I am her,
And she is me.

        KZ 

Not Myself

I get up in the early morning. I'm not sure what it is, but I know that something is wrong. I never willingly wake up in the morning. I get dressed. For some reason I choose to wear a short skirt, tight shirt, and a tall pair of stilettos. I go to the bathroom to get ready for school. I look in the mirror, ready to do my hair and makeup for the day. Who I see in the mirror is not me though. The girl in the mirror is a beautiful, tall woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. I decide that it is time to take my medicine. I don't see it anywhere. I begin to get a little worried.
I head downstairs to make myself some breakfast. I settle on some scrambled eggs with toast. When I am done cooking my eggs, I realize that they don't taste right. I look at my eggs to see that they are overdone and have little pieces of the shell still in them. The toaster suddenly pops up, but what pops up is not golden brown. The bread is black and is as hard as a rock.
I head outside to get ready to drive to school. What is waiting for me outside, is not my 1992 Oldsmobile. Instead, I see a brand new cherry read Mustang convertible. I step into my sweet ride. I realize that I didn't have anything to worry about. I know that I will eventually want my old life back, but for now I decide to take this life in. I anxiously await to see what is next in store for me and my new life.

L.J.

Impossibly flawless

A quick glance in the mirror is all I give myself. It's not worth it to look any longer, at the completely imperfect mind, body, and face that stares back at me with the most disappointed look. A look that says, " I'm not satisfied." The longer I look, the more confidence I lose.  There are too many things not good about me, inside and out. The golden hair on top of my head is masked to my scalp with layers of oil it has produced. No matter what I do, no matter what shampoo I try, no matter how long I stay in the shower digging violently at every angle of my skull to get it fully washed out, nothing gets rid of the oil. I look at my legs and think to myself how gross I feel for not shaving them, then again I restate that thought because there are many reasons I don't shave them every two days. Like the fact that every single time my legs are as soft as a baby's butt right as I shave them, I get out of the shower and get goosebumps..causing it to grow one milli-centimeter! So what's the point if it grows right back literally a minute later? I glance at my face.. There's a red blemish causing my glowing, smooth, pale-pink skin to look impossibly flawless. I slip on the outfit of the day, excited to dress up for once. Then I slowly depict rotten details out like how my jeans are too loose around my waist, or how this shirt makes my stomach look fat. Maybe I am fat, after all  I'm not a size zero, nor will I ever be. Every time I try to lose a few pounds here and there I gain it all back right away. I guess that's what I get for working at a restaurant! Aside from my problems constantly gaining weight, I have depression. Yes it runs in the family, grandma's mom died when she was nine years old, that's when she got depression and anorexia, almost all my aunts on my dad's side have both of those diseases. I happen to have one. I don't take medication for it because I'm against it. I think that if I have a problem I need to fix it myself. I feel like the medicine is ibuprofen with a different label, and it's meant to make me think it will work. No I haven't actually gone to the doctor and asked them if I have depression, but I don't need to pay someone a bunch of money to tell me I'm sad. I'm pretty much an adult in a 15 year old's body. I pay all my own bills, work three jobs, have a boyfriend, and all the things I could ever want. I'm starting to lose some things though. My family and I never talk because we can't talk without arguing. I can't stand people's decisions, and I am constantly annoyed, sad, and stressed. Nothing goes right in my mind. People try to help, but they don't understand. I cry too much, I'm mad too much.  I just wish I could be happy all the time, instead of turning everything into a sad, pissy situation. He says he loves me for me, and I know he does. Sometimes I think he's crazy, because you can't love someone so possibly flawed. But then I hear his words, "I love you" and think to myself what those words mean coming from him. Somebody who has seen my best days, my worst days, my completely bitchy days, my sad days, and my days where I love life so much I could scream it at the top of my lungs! If someone else can see the best in me through all the bad, why can't I see it too? Maybe being possibly flawed is what people really want. Maybe the little mistakes in my mind, body, and face aren't mistakes after all. I may not be size zero, perfect hair, skin, or have the happiest thoughts all the time, but I am happy with who I am, and I am flawless.

AN

Dating customs

     Along with a lot of other things,dating customs have changed since the start of technology. When our parents were teenagers they didn't have cell phones to text their boyfriend or girlfriend 24/7, like we do now. Nowadays some girls think that getting a WCW is the most romantic thing ever. Our parents never used the term "we have a thing" like what does that even mean? You're either with someone or not! Guys used to walk to the door to pick up their date, now they just text them and say I'm here. Snapchat best-friends can ruin relationships and cause fights. Handwritten letters have now became long emoticon filled texts. Guys used to give their girlfriend their letterman jackets to show that they were going steady now they just make it Facebook official. I wish that some of the old dating customs would come back into style!

Bai

The days fly by

              The days fly by, soon I won't be living the same life I did before.

Not seeing the same faces everyday, it brings adventure, the days that go by seem to feel like seconds

Starting something new is exciting but a little scary. But nothing lasts forever

Kdh

Easter Customs

While waiting for mother to finish supper, dad and I are painting Easter eggs a week before Easter. Oh! Who is that running around the corner? It is my younger sister coming to help paint her very first egg. My little sister is now 3, and she is uber excited to get colorful. Mother is cooking her traditional steak and gravy, with a pinch of parsley flakes over the top of the mouth watering mashed potatoes she makes every year at about this time. As dad, my little sis, and I finish up our new and improved eggs, I start doing what I always do. TALK! At this moment I talk about how the school year has been going, how I am reacting to either good or bad situations, and now I am coping with my past. As usual, my dad says his famous phrase.... “Chene, there are two things that you need to learn in life, How to deal with the past and how to keep moving forward without regrets” And like I always say, the best of things come from the worsts of places and situations. By the time we get done chattering, supper is ready. We (as in me)rush to the dinner table and hurry to sit down. My dad says to slow down and that its just food. But I always have to have the last word. So I say, “Yeah, but I'm literally starving my guts out”. Once we are all sitting at the table as a family, we hold hands in a weird looking circle, and bow our heads as my dad gives grace. He says the same prayer every day, at every meal.... I love it.

This is my family's Easter custom. We do different things at other holidays, but of course, it's my favorite holiday of the year, so you bet your buttons on it that I remember what my family does during this time.

Ck

The Expressionless

Broken Promises of The Expressionless.

As I sit here thinking of my very first promise,
I remember being the youngest of the family champions,
But then I'm almost certain that I was extremely delirious,
Whenever I feel down in the dumps, I comprehend her importance,
If I ruin what I have now then I shall lose all expression,
And I will Lose everything In my mind that I have conquered.

Where will I go, where will I stand, where will I conquer?
These are the things I need to figure out to secure my promise,
All I ever wanted was to see you and your enthusiastic expression,
This is where I stand, this where I will go, I will go to the hall of champions,
Because you are the missing puzzle piece, which means you fix the importance,
That is why I believe I'm losing control of myself do to being delirious.

Why am I so sad, why am I so depressed, it's because I'm delirious,
Everyone tells me that I can excel in life if I chose to conquer,
But I believe that they are wrong because I believe I have no importance,
I've lost everything I have worked for, I have broken my promise,
If they think I am important, then why don't they understand that I'm no champion,
There is no point in me being here anymore, I have lost all expression.

Sometimes I wish I could fix the blank stare on your face, but I show no expression,
Due to the fact that I'm useless, incompetent, and insecure, I am delirious,
I wonder what this world would be like with one less champion,
What if I had never been born? What if I was never thought of? Then who would conquer?
I act the way I do because I've broken hearts, I've broken relationships, I've broken promises,
This Is why I live the life I do, this is why I limit myself, I have lost my importance.

How am I supposed to keep moving forward without my own importance?
How am I to live life, if I have lost my own expression?
What kind of person am I if I've destroyed all of my promises?
I'm losing my mind, my soul, I'm so delirious,
Now I can only hope to overcome my feelings so I once more conquer,
If only I hadn't said what I had said, then I would be her champion.

Please stop feeling bad for me, it irritates me to the point of no return. I'm no champion.
Just stop what you are doing and bring back my belief of importance,
Why do I ruin every relationship? Why do I think I can conquer?
What if I just stopped existing? Then who would lose their expression?
I wonder if anybody else in this world of great sorrow, is feeling very delirious,
I wish I could fix my mistakes, but alas, I know I can't even bring back my promise.

I will never be able to fix my broken promises, I've lost my chance to be her champion,
Why am I always so delirious? What if it's because I've lost my own importance,
I end this with my final expression, oh wait, I don't have one, I have been conquered.

Ck

Camaro code of conduct

The Camaro code of conduct
Optimus prime

If entering the back seat maintain feet on the floor mats this also applies to passenger seat as well
You do not tell driver what do to, driver knows what to do
Never sit on drivers seat, not even in a mockable fashion, there will be blood
If you are feeling ill or are filthy, you shall not be allowed access into the vehicle
Always wear the safety belt no exceptions!
Do not tamper with radio or temperature controls, there will blood
Always maintain average volume while in the vehicle
There shall be no distractions, driver needs his concentration!
Never roll down windows unless directed to by driver
Do not make driver mad, there will be blood

Hope you enjoy your ride on Camaro!

The Note I Understood

OMG! She completely blew me up today. As a complete crabby lady, she up setted me.
She thinks that around all of us she can be mean and cranky. But of course as  soon as her husband walks in she becomes the peps kiser pup in the litter. Today is a new day and I hope she's in a better mood or the silent treatment will go on. As soon as I get in my car to leave for school I see:

I'm sorry I've been crabby lately, I hope this gas card can fill you up. And here's a little more cash for something fun. Hope you have a great day.

    -her.


So I did fill up with gas, but with the spare money I ordered her flowers. Along with an apology because I do know myself, that I get crabby. We all have our days, but Her and I now completely understand each others days.

Th

Dead butterflies

With every cut they make
Is one breath they won't take
From the wound blood cries
And one more butterfly dies

Dark

Standing outside in the hard-falling rain,
I see you at the end of the alley.
Illuminate the velvet night, so dark,
Come with me out onto the urban streets.
Watch the mist fall in iridescent sheets.
The world awaits as you blindly see.

Why can't you see, oh why can you not see?
Is your mind washed out by overcast rain-
ing down, fading away in vivid sheets?
Come on out of that desolate alley,
Open your heart to these spirited streets.
You don't have to continue living dark.

It's hard to catch you leering in the dark.
I know there's someone you're longing to see.
I want you to pull him off of the streets,
And, cliche, kiss him in the pouring rain.
Emerge from the gloom of twilight alley,
Tangle yourself in passion's golden sheets.

Love will cascade in gentle satin sheets,
So turn to the light, away from the dark.
Take a different road, a new alley.
Now-all the sights that you suddenly see,
Let them enlighten you like falling rain.
Don't go down any unsuitable streets.

If you find yourself wandering those streets,
Think back to all that you felt in those sheets.
The feelings that drowned you like flooded rain,
Then transported you home, out of the dark.
So why did it take you so long to see-
Life is nothing but a winding alley?

Pave over all your old rocky alley-
s, start off fresh with new, unbroken streets.
See all that you can potentially see.
Unfold and color your wrinkled white sheets,
Illuminate the velvet night, so dark,
And happiness will fall on you like rain.

The mild rain will cleanse you so you can see,
Be caressed by the alley of these sheets.
It will take you in off of the dark streets.

-A.H.

Bread of Life

1 cup of vibrant Golds, Browns, And Blues
8 Pillars, chopped
Handful of Stain glass windows
2 Tablespoons of pews, divided
Dash of peace
Sprinkle of love
Echoes for dusting

In a bowl mix 1 cup of vibrant Golds, Browns, and Blues,  8 chopped pillars (preferably brown ones with gold edges), and 1 tablespoon of pews. Blend a handful of stain glass windows, throw into the mix.  Add a dash of peace and a sprinkle of love. Top with remaining pews. Cover, and let sit for three days or until it has risen. Place in a bread loaf pan and cut a cross on top for venting. Bake at 300* for 1 hour. Dust loaf with echoes. Enjoy and share with others!
Tip: Best served with salvation jam.

Bri

This Holy Night

The bell rings and student dash
for the doors! I, among the crowd,
am swept right to my locker
and then again on to the street.

I walk home happily singing a tune,
We Gather Together to be precise.
Thanksgiving break has come,
the gateway to Christmas!

My favorite time of year! Decorations
hung from door to door, even outside
the house lights are all a glow! My family
trims the tree and hangs the stockings.

I walk through the streets, admiring
the beauty of the lights on each house
and I hear the bells toll at the church
just over yonder way, I join my family.

As we walk along the street, we talk
of joyous things, the gifts we will be giving
each other in the morning, but first we sing
we celebrate the birth of Christ the King

Joining many other families we sing
harmoniously with the organ. We listen
to the readings from the church youth,
telling of the Christ child, a newborn king.

Upon returning home we hit the hay and wait,
the youngest members of my family try to see
if reindeer really can fly, and they try to catch
a glimpse of Santa Claus as he makes his way

Eventually all is silent and all is calm on this holy night

AC

Starry skies

Waking to the glow of light
Of colors turning gold
Specks of dust shinning bright
All huddled towards the warmth
A twinkling little star above
Up up above the earth

The sun shining thought the earth
Of ocean, trees and light
A burning flame from above
A comet of pure gold
Hugging life, emitting warmth
Ever knowing, always bright

Tossing and turning, staying bright
She smiles at the sight of earth
Her cheeks blush pink with warmth
He's light
Worth more than gold
In the yellow eyes of above

Turning way above
Spirals burning bright
Painting pieces massive gold
Embracing the earth
A twinkle in her eyes, a light

Love is warmth
Although it's from above
Through dark and light
And shadows bright
The sun loved the earth
A love of pure gold

A tattoo of gold
Sketched with love and warmth
A ray of hope on the earth
Sharing faith from above
A sun so bright
Filled with light


KG

Life in a Cafeteria

A food crumb forgotten
Their life depended on it.
A Colorado rock avalanche, and
A playroom
Like bubbles on a sunny day.
What do we have to do
To get some
Steak?

Evil searches out it's prey
It will be his grandest moment...
Finish the scene of desolate loneliness.

She wouldn't and couldn't survive without it
Icecream
A mess and a jumble
Holding all charm in her hand
As easy as tying shoes

Frantically cutting through the air
Fingers flash, hands sway
A swamp of spaghetti,
Suffocating.


-Ms. O

A Bow of Chocolates

He knocked on my door early this morning before my alarm even screamed.  I trudged to the door in my silky pajama pants with my eyes half closed because it was only 6 am.  Why does it seem like I can never sleep in on a Saturday?  I creek open the strong wooden door and see him standing there looking down at a paper.  He looked up from his crumpled paper with a confused expression.  "Does Jenni live here?"  My face lit up when I realized who he was and so I invited him in even though Jenni didn't live here.  She had died a few years back but I couldn't find it in me to tell him that.  I just told him no and insisted that I he come in for some coffee.
We sat at the small wooden table in the kitchen until the coffee was ready.  "I've never tried coffee before," he said as I set a cup in front of him.  Soon after, coffee was spewed out in mist onto the table and tile floor.  I could tell he was very embarrassed as his face turned red and bitter.  "I don't really like the coffee.  Can I just have a Coke?"  I said sure and went to the fridge in the garage where I kept my pop.  I returned to see him shirtless, mopping up all of the coffee that was spilt on the table and floor.  "I didn't know where a towel was so I just used my shirt," he told me while wiping his shirt in circles on the table.  I rushed to the drawer beside the sink and handed him a clean towel only to watch him wipe his face with it and continue cleaning the floor with his shirt.  I decided to just let him finish.
After he was done he told me he had to go to the bathroom, so I showed him down the hall then walked back and sat waiting at the table.  Eventually I heard the flush of the toilet, the running water of the sink, and the doorknob that wobbled back and forth almost frantically for about ten long seconds.  He paced back into the kitchen and said, "I thought you locked me in there."  "No that door is just a little touchy," I replied.  Then he told me he felt like running and still needs to find Jenni so he opened the strong wooden door and walked out.  I went to the door and watched him run down the cracked sidewalk and around the corner toward the bus station.  Then I turned back to see his soaking wet, coffee stained shirt sitting on the table.  Maybe he'll be back someday.  I almost didn't get up to open the door that interesting Saturday morning.  I'm glad I did though because I was definitely not expecting to find him on the other side.  I guess life really is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're gonna get.

JayZ

Ex wife

Looking down the skylight and it struck 5 we smashed the window and jumped through quickly killing all seven chefs with our hands we switch clothes with them and get ready to serve dinner.  We take out the food and wait for the couple, many guest arrive and I know them all to well.  We used to be friends, some of us anyway.  My exes family was very nice for the most part.  I felt for my gun neatly tucked in behind the chef outfit and out of site.  The silencer in my front pocket ready to be put on.  The couple walked in and my team all took positions.  I behind the cake,  Jeff in the corner by the doors, Karl right behind the head table and of course Yuri who had positioned himself outside the door ready to lock us in.  I had to admit the royal Russian wedding was nothing but fantastic.  I reached down to grab the tear gas canister hidden behind the cake and threw it.  Yuri closed the doors and we all put on masks and grabbed the head of the Russian mafia and ran past his two guards outside the door put a bullet in there chests and ran to the car and left.  The American embassy will be happy with this one.

Mr. Dodge

The Fort

Here's a place we used to go,
Where it is not many know.
Up the small hill and through the trees,
Was a place we used to be free.
It contains all our favorite things,
Sit in the seats of the car and hear the birds sing.
Homemade signs with all our names,
Hoping someday we'd be writing them for fame.
Grandma comes to bring us cookies and juice,
Knowing this is where we'd come if we got loose.
We rake the leaves and shape them into piles,
I'm sure you could hear our giggles for miles.
There were times we played with fire,
But were careful; the consequences were dire.
The old chairs were made new with cans of spray paint,
Signs of the past had become faint.
Trees were climbed all the way to the top,
Little did we know, someday it would stop.
The trunks of fallen giants were made into seats,
When we played war, no one would go down in defeat.
One after another, cousins would lose interest.
Times like these put our faith to the test.
Until there were only three who remained,
These memories together forever retained.
Now, this place we used to go houses our past.
I wish it hadn't gone by so fast...

KZ

A little country never hurt anyone

The country is so inviting. You have the sunset to watch over the rolling hills of overgrown grass that sways in the wind. Sometimes it's best just to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To live life doesn't simply mean to exist. Another day dawns only to say that you've made your way to the "top of the food chain", have plenty of green stored away, and have the absolute best of everything. To me, that isn't what life is all about. Life is so much more than the silly materialistic pleasures that the world has to offer. Being able to go out somewhere quiet and settle your thoughts is so liberating. To have a sound mind and happiness while enjoying the quiet whispers of nature gives me goosebumps. To connect your inner beauty to the beauty that surrounds you gives you a true sense of what life really can be. The country is my quiet place where I can have a sound mind and be able to feel my intangible thoughts. The way that I see it is if there is all work and no play, the world will consume you whole. Live in some beauty or you might become one of those robots the world produces daily.

Kell 

Destruction

I wake u in the morning to look out my window and see the moon.
This is unusually strange sight for I usually see the ocean.
And this makes me quite blue.
I walk out my bedroom onto the porch.
I am quite shocked because it's never this hot in Maine,
a great day to surf and I end up laughing.

As a cold wind blows I abruptly stop laughing,
And closer comes the moon.
Waves beat the beach, blowing in from the ocean.
But I cannot see it which makes me blue.
I go inside away from my porch.
This is not my Maine.

Calm, fresh, and smelling of salt is MY Maine.
In the wind I hear laughing.
Angrily I glare at the moon,
which is making the waves grow larger in the ocean.
I call to my dog Blue,
And he runs up onto the porch.

I don't want to go out onto the porch,
And see what is happening to my Maine.
Hear the insane laughing
of the wind, see the moon
getting closer and closer. Hear the ocean
whipping the shore. I don't want to get Blue.

But I let Blue 
in. And we look out the window, past the porch.
And watch the storm destroy my beautiful Maine.
Nobody is laughing.
Sending destruction is the moon.
    The one that gets blamed is the ocean.

The usually calm, clear ocean, 
A gorgeous color of aqua blue.
The one I love watching while swinging of my porch.
What's happening to my Maine?
The place I spend every summer laughing 
with my family on the beach, watching the moon. 

Blue is a sign of sadness, not laughing.
Which is what I feel now, the moon has made the ocean
destroy my porch but not my Maine.

Jw