Arrow

Here is where I met him for the first time.
Here is where I realized that sparks shoot through me whenever he's close.
Here is where I spent my first 10 minutes alone with him in my truck one night because he forgot his
money and needed a ride to get it.
Here is where he said things that had my heart racing so fast, I thought it would beat right out of my chest.
Here is where I fell for him.
Here is where I should've told him because I thought he was leaving for good the next day.
Here is where I blissfully learned that he didn't.
Here is where he hugged me because he hadn't seen me in a week and he said he missed me.
Here is where he came up and rubbed my shoulders when I was having a hard time.
Here is where he suddenly hugged me again because he said he felt the need to be near me.
Here is where we had our first moment, standing in silence, looking deep into each other's
eyes.
Here is where I was out with him until 12:30am, just talking about
anything and everything.
Here is where I got grounded for it.
Here is where he first held my hands, wrapping them in his as he stared intently.
Here is where his laugh intoxicates me.
Here is where his touch sends shivers down my spine and where his smile sets fire to my
heart.
Here is where, even when his eyes glare daggers of blood, I am struck by arrows of love.
Here is where it all began.
Here is where our future is.

A.H.

Never ending struggle

College,

Exciting but nerve wrecking.

Never less stressful as heck! You get a plan to go to a college you really like, then at the last minute a college offers you a deal to do so,etching great with them. Throwing everything out of Wack, you suddenly can't decide what's the best thing to choose.

Parents never stop talking about it, constantly trying to change your mind.

But in the end it needs to be your choice not anyone else's.

Learning about yourself is important because it helps you out in the long run to help choose what's best for you.

College is a never ending struggle

Kdh

Life As a Crayon

It all started with the creation of my own well being. I was composed at a factory in Easton, PA on the 6th of July. But I'm not the only one to be constructed on this day, because the rest of my family is here in this oddly shaped box. My name.... Is R.E.D. Which is short for Retired and Extremely Dangerous. As I am swiftly jerked around by huge hands, I here the rest of my family screaming, almost as if they were on a roller-coaster. I barely catch a glimpse of a white truck labeled Rosetta, pulling up to the back of a larger building. My family and I are brought toward this other building. When we reach our destination, I can hear the soft whimpering of my mother(purple) and my little sister(baby pink) in the background of all these gruff sounding men. The men are telling the driver of the white truck to bring us to our rally point. ____________________________________________________________________________
After a while of being in the dark and musty back, the truck abruptly stops. The door opens and we are shocked and blinded by the bright illumination of the sun. Right when I start to believe that I'm going to die, the man grabs our box and a few others, and carries us into a new building. This building smelt like flowers blooming in the spring. The artistry on the wood walls was exuberayting. And the perfectly aligned shelves and stock was exciting as well. As we made our way down to the isle we belonged to, I saw a sign that said "Welcome to Hollywood, CA." This was our next home. I was starting to get a little dizzy from all the moving around. So I decided to take a little nap....(snoring excessively) I am awakened by a high pitched voice saying something about wanting crayons. As soon as I heard this, I was like, "Oh my gosh this is my chance to escape this box. So I started to move around so that the box would wiggle off the shelve we were on. Surprisingly it actually worked. So the mom of the girl boy picked us up and tossed us into this cold, metallic object. Soon after we were being scanned and put into a plastic bag. I was singing to my self about being able to see the open world once more.....

____________________________________________________________________________ We arrived at our "final" home and were being brought upstairs to this child's room. Finally, after so many days in this crammed box, we were free. The child said that we were in Albany, NY. Once free from our original home, I jumped due to the sound of my mothers blood curling screams. She had colored her last picture of purple. For she had been broken in half by this demonic child. ____________________________________________________________________________
Years later, my clothes(wrapper) had worn out into a blur of words and color. I ended up being washed down a toilet, once my height had shortened and my color was bland. Was this the end of my crayon life? Was I now useless? Yes to both questions.
I am now in the after life of a crayon. I see a sign that reads Death Valley California.

Once I saw that sign, I knew it was all over.

CK

CUSTOMS

In my house there are no rules.
You will fly carelessly with the wind
And respect wherever it takes you,
because everybody's path is unique.
You must be tolerant and obedient enough
That nothing may dull your happiness.
You have to be open to trying new things
And be accepting of failure.
Respect others; be kind always; hugs are nice too (just so you know).

E.S.

The Right Shadow to Follow

If I could help the kids of this corrupted world think that they do not have to join gangs or do drugs, I would. There are a few things they need to hear....
There are many things that can occupy your leisure time. Such as, writing, hanging with RIGHT group of friends.... Etc.
Don't do drugs because they will corrupt you and it is hard to get out of such an addiction.
When you join a gang, there is no turning back because once your out, YOU are the victim of their tortuous acts of pleasure.
Gangs are just wannabes that think they are a "family" but when the push comes to shove, they gave nobody but themselves to defend their own well being.

DRUGS KILL!
Gangs hurt others for pleasure.
But you, can choose how your going to live....live for yourself , and not in another persons shadow.
CK

Here and There

Here I scribbled a picture of my doggy and kitty with purple crayons on the living room wall.
Here I bubbled with pride as I scaled a tree, a fallen Nebraska cottonwood, for the first time.
Here I played t-ball on the purple team.
Here I hobbled along on my bike that was freed from the training wheels.
Here I unearthed my love for science, watching heat from my grandma's lamp melt a plastic toy.
Here I lied to my aunt that it was not me who created the green, plasticky mess on the carpet.
Here I built, with architectural skills of a second grader, a treehouse crafted with old barn wood.
Here I fell through an unsturdy board of a treehouse.
Here I waited patiently for when I would be lifted on shoulders for the game-winning interception
Here I cackled at my impromptu horror stories while my cousins shivered with fear.
Here I learned to drive on a muddy 210 St. in a grey Ford Taurus.
Here I listened to cackling fireworks, innocent child play as we said goodbye under July stars.
Here I snatched my diploma and walked off the stage one last time.
Here I had an epic summer.
Here I end this journey at a place that once seemed a very far off there.
Here I start a new journey there, using the knowledge gained from the last journey.
Here I pull up that grey Taurus in a parking lot in front of a dorm.

Ha

Lightning show

If I lay here...

It's a warm summer day and I choose to ride my bike out in the middle of a pasture right by the beaver creek. I part the prairie grass and lie down. The clouds have now moved their way across the span of sky. I was promised a lighting show this afternoon. In the near distance I can hear the birds chirping and the bugs buzzing along. Moooooo. I hope the cows don't mistake me for their afternoon brunch. Horses trot right past my toes checking to make sure the cows are doing well. The wind picks up, and my hair strands sand on end reaching to the sky. It's three o'clock and it's only two minutes until showtime. The cows decide to join me and they too lie down in the grass. I can hear the stage director's voice booming behind the grey curtain of clouds. The spotlight flashes from all comers of the stage. Now, it's 3:02 and it's time to let the lighting show begin. I find it so sweet that after the show some of the actors came down from the stage and greeted me with kisses on the apples of my cheeks.

Kell

I Long For The Summer Nights

The sun starts to set,
Summer's warm day is coming to an end.
The wood is stacked by the pit,
Waiting and begging to be burned.
The fire makes a loud pop,
Flames reflect in our eyes.
The heat burns our shins,
Hot dogs roast over the fire.
Flames sizzle and spit sparks,
Ashes raise to the sky and become stars.
The moon lights the path to peace,
Trees sway in the cool breeze,
And fireflies light up the landscape.
The coals glow dimly in the bottom of the pit,
Telling us its time to rest.
The locust sings us a sweet lullaby,
And we drift off to sleep in the summer air.

-KZ

My name...

Devyn
such a hollow sound
like knocking on a hollow tree
like yelling in a tunnel
the lonely echo
yet daring to be
different

Loud without making a sound
Silently screaming

Psych

Quotes of Inspiration*

A sage is the instructor of the ages--
"No one can ever fill your shoes!"
Be the light--

For life is too short to stay mad.

You see, you are in charge of your own happiness,
and you
are
enough.
So explore the world around you,
Laugh often, long, and loud
Gasp for breath...heck,
High five it....
Because the truth matters. 
More than you know.

Stick with love as hate
is too great a burden to bear,
But most of all?

Set your sights on a star of known brightness....

Create.


~Ms. Olson
*Poem of quotes compiled from my desk calendar!

Not Just A Father, A Dad

Here I pulled the throttle back and leaned forward as my bike climbed the steepest hill in the pasture.

Here I bargained back and forth and held my ground to get my first truck.

Here I kissed every good looking girl in the room on New Years Eve.

Here I danced at a wedding with your mother for the very first time.

Here I curled up on this couch with her and watched Cheers in her small apartment room.

Here I kissed her in front of both our family and friends after we exchanged vows to start our lives together.  I still see her beauty in that moment and every moment since.

Here I held her hand with excruciating pain as she huffed and puffed in the hospital bed.

Here I held your little head in my arms for the very first time.

Here I carried you upstairs from a blanket on the floor after you dozed off while we all were watching America's Funniest Home Videos.

Here you persuaded me to buy yet another toy because you were so cute that I couldn't say no.

Here I held you on my knee and let you drive the tractor to the next gate.

Here you slingshotted water balloons at me in front of the house.

Here I lifted you up onto the saddle to ride no further than around the yard.

Here I watched your gaze turn to love as you looked down at your new baby sister.

Here I gathered sand by the ocean so you could make your first sand castle while the waves glided forth to the edge of my callused feet.

Here I sat by the campfire with you asleep in my arms until I had to give you up to your mother who took you to sleep in the tent.

Here I wrapped your icicle toes in my coat to warm them up until the buck walked into the clearing at the edge of the field.

Here I cooked you a steak at 1 am because you ruined your supper by eating chips before we sat down to eat.

Here I hugged you after each football game and felt how proud of you I am.

Here I watched you grow to become a man, through all the steps, the trials, the glories, the smiles, the laughs, the love.  I was there.

JayZ

Memories of Venezeula

Here as a child I played ding dong ditch with my group of friends
Here I attempted parkour with friends and got in trouble for trespassing
Here I picked lemons off the neighbors lemons tree and made lemonade with my friends, and got in trouble
Here I survived the three inches of rain we got in 2008
Here I flew a plane and ventured into new lands
Here I lived in a new world
Here I am now


Optimus prime

Real Nightmare

It was 11 O'clock, and I had just arrived back in my dorm from my long shift at Applebee's. My feet were still screaming as I walked over to my bed. They let out a squeal of joy once I finally slipped my shoes off. It felt so amazing to lay down. My roommate was surprisingly sound asleep. I didn't want to bother her so I grabbed my headphones and covered up as I prepared myself to watch a few episodes of psyche on my laptop before I went to bed. It was now 12:01 am and I hadn't seen or heard any noise come from my roommate, which was extremely odd since her snores were louder than the screech of a wild boar. I slowly slid out of my bed and ever so quietly crept over to check on her. I placed my fingers on her neck. There was still a pulse, good she is a live. I didn't think anymore of it, and decided I was extremely tired so I went to bed.
It was now 10:00 am and my roommate still hadn't moved from the same position she was in last night.  She never can sleep past nine so I couldn't figure out what the deal was. I walked over to wake her up because she had class in ten minutes, but it didn't take more than the quick touch to her arm for me to realize the horrifying truth, she was dead.
I started screaming and took of running down the hall to get our RA. I couldn't even begin to describe to her what was going on so I pulled her down to my room and forced myself to show her. She frantically started dialing 911 in an attempt to get help of any sort. Confusion, panic, and chaos had set in.  
After a few hours of sitting in our RA's room and constant questioning from the police, they told me she must have died while I was at work, her legal death time was 10:49 pm.  I just stared at them and said nothing. How could that be? There isn't any way that that could be possible. I felt her pulse at 12:01. I know I did.
I stared at the investigator and with a deep breath I told him that.
He looked at me with a little worry in his eyes and spoke the words to me I will never be able to forget as long as I live, "That pulse you felt wasn't hers. It was her killers."

Bri

A Day in the Garden

The flowers growing in the garden blossom
As the clouds roll in the lighting flashes the rain
Begins, the cool breeze and waving branches are beautiful
The rain comes trickling through the dry creek, it grows into a stream
The garden continues to cool letting each and every plant
breath. Sitting on the bench in the gazebo, relaxing.

The rain goes away, allowing me to move out to the garden to relax
more, I find the bench nearest the roses and decide the smell from each blossom
is absolutely wonderful. Sitting there watching the trees and flowers and shrubs, plants
are beautiful things, never needing more than a scoop of love and a shower of rain.
flowing on and babbling through the garden's center filling the pond below, runs the stream
as I sit, dreaming on throughout the day of place far and near, that are exquisitely beautiful

laying on the banks of the pond, I stare up and watch the clouds drift by, beautiful
spending time alone in the center of this grand garden green I lay just relaxing,
happy times and joyous things, a pond of memories filling up ready to flow downstream
there in the distance, are the Lilies growing tall and fragrant, such large blossoms
coming from in the distance the clouds return, they rumble ever so quietly, the rain
Comes and I run for the gazebo arriving just before the rain begins, I sit watching the plants

the rain ends and I wander off towards the shade garden, filled with plants
in many different hues of green. Hostas and Bleeding hearts fill the area with beautiful
shades of purples and pinks. under these trees not more that a drop or two of rain
is ever needed. I sit in soft green grass enjoying the sounds of happy birds, I love relaxing
eventually I take a nap next to the violets as they wave in the soft gentle wind the blossoms
of perpetual motion. down the hill runs the babbling brook the runs right into the stream.

I awake to and go down to the brook, following it until I find the stream
There I sit skipping rocks watching as the wind blows by rustling the leaves of the plants
Down by the stream I find a hidden alcove filled with columbine and astilbe blossoms,
the scent is amazing, as I wander through a find a waterfall near the back such a beautiful
place, simply walking through the alcove continues to refresh the already relaxed
senes of mine. The creek feeding the falls above, has been replenished by the recent rain.

Time moves on, and I follow the stream up a ways, finding more brooks created by the rain,
I decide to stop and sit again for a while listening to the birds and the babke of the stream.
this day has been filled with peace and tranquility, i have become fully relaxed
laying next to the stream I notice more blossoms of new primrose, the plants
simply abound, filling this garden to the brim making it the most beautiful
that I’ve ever seen. on the other bank I notice a patch of Lily of the Valley with big blossoms

The flowers and their blossoms abound with joy, many washed open by the rain.
The beautiful land surrounding me, cut by brooks and streams
A garden filled with these plants of grandeur, and a place to sit and relax.

AJC

People change

The world we live in not everyone is going to get along.

But when we are younger, we are forced to be stuck in a room with people 

That we either can not stand or bully one another.

Through middle school years it gets worse everyone is going through that awkward change.

People do grow up but it doesn't seem they do until the last year of high school, this year my senior year, I finally feel like I get along with mostly everyone. Hanging out with people I never hungout with before. But as a senior we all want to get out, so we really just realize how much time we wasted hating instead of hanging.

Kdh 

First Love's Knife

I can still remember the butterflies
Fluttering through me,
Tickling me when I saw you,
Talked to you,
When you smiled at me,
And your touch that electrified me,
The blindness that came with a first love.
But I woke up when you stabbed a knife into the small of my back,
You know, where you always used to caress.
You left a gaping wound so deep, it was a river of blood,
Flowing from my heart that you tore out of my chest.
Over time, the void has slowly filled,
The river dried out and I have healed,
Moved on to another who will treat me right.
But no matter how much time will pass,
I'll always have the scars from my first love's betrayal.

-A.H.