Faith Moves Mountains, by Adlin Ramirez (12)
Bravery, encourages you to step into the unknown,
Eagerly awaiting for you to awake the lion from within.
“Look up to the mountain,” he says, in a trustworthy tone.
“I will lift up your head when
Everyone thinks you can’t overcome it, but know that you’re a
Vessel who will nourish the dry soil and
Everyone will not fear the unseen but believe in it.
I responded in great fear of the journey I will proceed,
“Not me, I-I am not ready. I’m weak, I’m nothing.”
“The decision is yours and not mine.
He, the Great I am, anointed Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations and
Even though he doubted, he decided to pursue his calling.
I then realized what I had to do and I said:
“Maybe I will fail, but all I say is ‘Here I am.’
People might think I’m peculiar but I’m not
Ordinary. I’m like an exotic flower in a dessert.
Shouting for rescue you will not find me doing but
Saving and bringing life back into these dry bones.
I am not afraid anymore. I will step out of the
Boat and I will begin to walk over the waters
Looking up to the salvation of my people.
Everyone has a purpose and this is mine. This mountain shall move by my faith.
Precious Items, by Dylan Farquhar (10)
A small, pink seashell slept like a sloth on the shore
The stars soared over its unseeing eyes.
It spent many nights as an impartial observer.
But soon it was ripped from the world it was part of.
A small, playful boy with cheeks like tomatoes
Soon picked up the shell and showed it a smile.
Although he knew not, he showed it much more than just a faint grin.
Through fate or luck or maybe disaster, it hid in the depths of his pockets like a misbehaved child.
The child scoured the beach like a ravenous animal.
In the hopes of returning the shell to its homestead.
Yet the sun soon winked goodbye and fled the horizon.
When it returned to its post and the child to his, the tiny object he sought had been spotted.
He clung to it tightly in hopes it was lucky.
Yet each day that passed by, the shell drew much closer.
It was the boy’s Peter, his loyal apostle.
It never left him even though all others might flee.
The shell was his joy on the nights that dragged onwards.
Like armies of men trudging through the thick snow.
The shell was his luck when the world turned against him.
Like a barrage of lightning all aimed at him.
The shell was his faith when his close friends betrayed him.
With the hope that he would soon learn to trust once again.
Losing the shell was worse than an arm.
It had become something more precious by far.
So when the day came when he returned to the shore.
When decades had flown by as quick as a swallow.
He only let the shell go, to knock at Death’s door.
And when it returned to its bed, he was gone.
Ceiba, by Janneidy Blasini Reyes (12)
Here goes the sun
And that’s when we start to run
Away from the waves,trying to become Moses
Separating the water around you, you get to dry land
But they catch up to you
The surroundings cave in
You’ll never win against the water
The sky screams, lightning and thunder
Alongside the people losing their wonder
Here goes the sun
Here comes the rain and wind
Then softer is the storm within
Does the sound of caving buildings
Send you to sleep
Does the thought of your island stopping
Make you smile.
No! You stop.
You find yourself and meet the sound
You are louder.
You’ll never let the wind destroy
What we have built for decades
But the physical structure reunites
Your heart filled with fright
But bravery and light
Fill the night,
Here goes the Sun
But here comes the strength.
Like a ceiba in the ground
We built this town We built this island.
The Lizard Wizard, by Laura Dubois (10)
There once was a lizard who was a wizard
She was precisely a gecko
She had telepathy and the ability to mess with one’s memory
She wore a star studded hat
Her best friend was a naked mole rat
One day her friend went down to her tiny shack
Hey what’s that? the mole rat asked
Its my new spell.
The brooms will get me water from the wishing well
The brooms zoomed
The well next to the river I presume?
Why yes.
I do not think that’s the best’
Why not? the gecko raised her eyebrow
Cause the river is guarded by the cow
What cow?
The cow named Mao
Suddenly the ground shook
The mole rat gave the gecko a terrified look
Oh no what do we do?
And then came an ominous moo
The door burst and then came
The bull that strikes terror through its name
Mao the cow laughed aloud
Who cast the spell that brought water to my well?
The gecko squeaked Me sir!
She meant no harm!
It was just a meaningless charm!
Mao glared down with no smile or frown
But then a grin appeared
Thank you for your help, The well was overfull
Weakening my power. But now i’m in my finest hour
Picture My Prophecy, by Andrea Alvarez (11)
Can you picture my prophecy?
Stress fills the air for everyone
As we figure out how to get through this lack of hope.
Although this world is occupied with despair
And people slowly seem like they do not care,
I still feel like we are all worth fighting for
Under all this pressure we are dealing with
I could say happiness is the best medicine
In the face of the monster I call reality
Although you might think there’s nowhere to hide
And our souls overfilled with fright
We still have to keep our sanity
But I know that when the sun and moon glances at us
It is like a sign of peace,
And tells me a message every time I glance back
Of course I understood the message
That no matter how hard it gets
Through every dark night, there’s a bright day after that.
I believe we can all heal
Like a rose growing out of the concrete
And leave behind this unpleasant atrocity
So in our future
We will form a refinement
Then I hope you now can picture my prophecy.
Jonghyun, by Veronica Sargent (12)
Kim Jonghyun, a Korean Pop Star
Who belonged in a group called “SHINee”
He was the owner of the stage, him and his light consumed the world
It’s still shocking to me that he is not with us anymore
Instead of being a mere human being down on Earth, he
Is now an angel in the heavens above us
I was unsure if he was safe, but the (moon itself sent a message to everyone around the world)
as it changed its colors from its regular gray to a nice, aqua blue.
The color of SHINee’s fandom.
Back when I first heard about Jonghyun’s passing from
My friend, I didn’t believe her. I thought she was lying.
I never thought in (a million years) that someone who
Was as talented and successful like Jonghyun, would
ever want to leave the planet.
(I always thought that the cause of Jonghyun’s passing
would be of old age), but his depression took a hold of
him probably sooner than he would’ve liked it to.
He couldn’t handle it anymore.
It isn’t until famous celebrities go through depression
That we realize the strong effect that it can have on
Someone’s life and their mind. It’s like you’re suffocating in a tunnel of darkness with no escape.
Sad thing is, when someone goes through it,
It doesn’t show like (Bruce Banner turning into the Hulk.)
People keep it hidden to themselves, which can end up
Hurting even more.
(Depression is like a never-ending spiral of torture, pain, and misery.)
I just wish Jonghyun had a better
Psychiatrist. One who could actually help him face his
Problems. Not tell him that he just had to “Get over it.”
Untitled, by Valerie Osorio (10)
My finger is an antennae
Whatever they touch
But rose, apple,
cell phone , clutch
They race the feel
Into my brain,
Plant it there and
Being and again
That is how I knew
Hot from cold
Before I was even
Two years old.
This is how I can tell
Though years away
That elephant hide
Feels leathery grey
My brain never loses
The touch I bring
Frail of an eggshell
Pull of a string
Beat of a pulse
That tells me life
Thumps in a person
But not in a knife
Signs that say
“Please don’t touch”
Disappoint me
Very much.
Memorable, by Areej Abid (9)
I really enjoyed this summer
Coming back was a bummer
I miss all my cousins
I met dozens
Every time I think of them a smile appears
I feel like we haven’t talked in years
For 22 hours I sat on a plane
I had brain drains and chest pains
I left Pakistan
It was a hard thing to do man
When I spent my first week there I wanted to go back
Now that I think about it that’s pretty whack
My mom told me when we leave I would miss it
I don’t say this often but she was right I’ll admit
I cried but then went to Dubai
It was hard saying goodbye
The mall was oh so very large
However, it was expensive and my mom felt overcharged
Everything I did was super fun
This summer was number one
Not gonna lie I did miss my bed
I came back to my grandma’s famous cornbread
I’m gonna go back right when school ends
I just really miss my friends
I have to save my money
Whether it’s from the tooth fairy or easter bunny
I must store every penny
All in all this trip won’t be forgotten
Especially my favorite cousin whose cheeks are like cotton
But for now, I just have to focus on school
Even though it does me so cruelly
I guess it is sort of cool
April fools
New Days, by Andrew Jimenez (12)
Do you know what it’s like
To fall every day
Learning to live life
Like another stray
Not knowing who you are
You just lose yourself
Not going very far
You search somewhere else
Another day I start again
In this never-ending trend
So burdened by the light of day
You’ve blue skies while my clouds are gray
I wait for the day
That these days are not the same
I’m breaking away
To escape yesterday
So I save myself
I’ll climb out the well
Just to find my way
And to finally say
This is what I dreamed
Now I’m finally free!
Battle Cries, by Bridget Gallon (10)
The events unraveling today are atrocious.
It’s making everyone around ferocious.
The violence will not come to an end.
The day settles into the night as morning comes in.
The people can’t seem to forget, their words are not forgotten.
They’ve outspoken their speeches, it’s dancing in their minds.
They hear screams and cries it’s a yelp for help.
My heat goes to all who have lost.
My heart is in pain like a headache to the brain.
These must be the worst days in history.
With all of these people bashing and crashing it’s a whirlwind,
why can’t they stop?
Protesters declaring to be heard instead they’re ignored
by the people that are in charge.
They resemble the strong words spoken by Martin Luther King Jr.
They walk in crowds, they speak so loud, it’s alerting.
No one’s alone, in these swarms, they stand together.
Together they fight alongside each other.
Their love is fierce it illuminates many.
Their hearts are in battle wanting to weep.
The conflicts are faulty everythings a bit rocky.
Their hope is vigorous in need to get serious.
At School Runner, by Jessy Cruz (12)
My heartbeat pumping, the sound of my feet stomping on the ground,
my thoughts are telling me to run faster
So I do, Picking up the pace
My feet become lighter but my breath becomes heavier
The sounds of my steps start to rumble
As My head tells me once more run Faster, Faster!
My lungs deflate and inflate in a instant, a rush of wind hits my face
And all I can taste is the sweat running down my face
And a single thought telling me to run faster! faster! Faster !
And bam! All you can hear is my skin sliding on the floor like a door pushing against the floor
I too came to a sudden stop after I slided a bit more
Turning to the skie I reached my hand out and wondered
“why i’m not fast enough to touch the sky”
Lightning strikes and water begins to fly, I was left with my thoughts
People tell me I’ll never be enough, that I won’t make it, and if I did it would be complete luck
And you know that really sucks,
to be consumed by labels is tough, being called this and that an ugly dumbass that can’t read
Ha ha what a brat
Rain falls harder as I was surrounded by water
It’s because your on the floor you’re just that
Before I knew it I was drowning in my own thoughts and I couldn’t stop
Covering my face with decrease of what it seemed to be my own fate
A hand, one single hand grabbed me and pulled me up
And told me to never ever give up!
the sky cleared and the sunshine dried my face up and I thought to myself
even if I don’t touched the sky today,
I will be fast enough to touch it one day.
An Open Letter From A Deity, by Bryanna Mohan (10)
When your picture is pointed out on the tapestry
That’s hung in the archives of my heart
By it’s new inhabitants
That you taught me how to discipline
I wonder if I should use you as a warning
Or romanticize you, as I normally would
I look at your first appearance
And contrast it to your last
I can’t help that, I take pride in how I
Sculpted you, and built you
How I put the stars in your eyes
So you would try to reach them
I learned how humanity works
Intertwined in heart strings and sacrifice
Throwing my body into fires
To forge your smiles
But when you stopped smiling at me
I knew I had done something wrong
I started wars on your behalf
Because I knew you would win
And for you to look up at me and smile
That would have made it all worth wild
The thing is, the planets are slowly
But surely drifting away from the sun
I created seas from my tears
So you didn’t have to hide in the shade
When my effort to make you happy
Ended up making you uncomfortable.
The moment you cut off your wings, I grew furious
So I flooded the Earth so you could see my might
As my waves tore my own murals and statues down
My own art abandoned me
I had to understand a demon can’t
When I held you in my heart, the way Venus does Cupid
You thought my ribs were a cage and broke them as you crawled and scratched your way out
All I ever did was worship you
Implosion, by Gia Nottingham (10)
The darkness surrounds me,
I’m engulfed in the sorrow.
Only a young child,
Receiving great news.
I sat there empty,
No water flows from my face.
They tell me, I’m brave.
I tell them, they’re sorry.
Your pity is not necessary.
My woe is destruction.
It bottles till it implodes.
Only years later it takes action.
It makes my eyes red and puffy.
My pillowcases are sponges for the implosion.
My body goes numb with emotion,
I go hours without moving.
The clock ticks,
Time passes,
People come… go.
With the feeling of nothing,
The implosion builds,
Once… Again…
Blossoming, by Natalia Castillio (10)
My strong flower, you inspire me to write
You are altogether beautiful my darling
Invading my mind day and night
There is no flaw in you beautiful seedling
Your lips drop sweetness like a honeycomb
The thought of your eyes really makes impact
You are so attractive and strong
Summertime continues lifelong
The daze in your eyes is unforgettable
The flowers of love are blooming
Her hair was a flowing golden river
streaming down her shoulders
She is a chilly night in spring
She is the reason I breathe
The atmosphere is warm
The sun is shining brighter
Roses begin to bloom as her smile brightens
She is is blooming into a beautiful flower
How ironic… i am blossoming just like you
Beautiful, strong, and confident
Untitled, by Kiara Breland Pando (12)
The last day of his last breath
All was quiet
His face seemed content but sad
His eyes stayed shut
As his breath was weak
I felt my tears were the only ones shed
I felt hollow
Empty inside
like a piece of me was lost
My heart shattered like glass
I wanted to scream
Cry for his name
I grabbed his hand,still warm but fading
I spoke to him through sobs and hiccups
I told him not to go
Pleading
And pleading
He could still hear yet
Of course no response would be met
I was taken away
The last I saw of him
Taken away covered in white
cold.
Untitled, by Christopher Kern (11)
I saw him lying there
I was taken out of school for this
March 10th, 2016
I remember that day so vividly
I was in disbelief actually
Why did this happen to my father?
I remember when he was ill
Sitting in his room
Slowly deteriorating
I remember how I would always keep him company
I didn’t care if the world ended that day
Nothing in the world was as important
In the darkest times, he was always optimistic
He had this aura about him that spawned hope
An unrelenting hope
He wouldn’t let up
He would always say
“One day at a time”
I saw Anubis on that day
Waiting in that room
For my father
He was taken from this world
By a sinister, noxious hand
I learned the importance of life and death
I remember
March 10th, 2016
I miss my father
Untitled, by Dan Trinh (11)
Driving along the snowy path
My car slid like butter off the road
It had the fate of the Titanic in the snow
Such tragedy, such anger
I dug myself out but couldn’t save my car
Called for a tow truck, but it had to come far
Waited for an hour, learned the tow truck crashed
Now another tow truck must tow it back
Curse this cold weather! I called for an uber.
My ride came and I told him directions.
He was in a furious mood and put the pedal to the metal.
His head was steaming red as he drove forward.
I wondered “What’s going on?”
“I’m just in a bad mood okay?’ he muttered
Minutes later, arrived at the hospital
His head turns and he screamed “OK, we are at the hospital. GET OUT OF MY CAR NOW.”
I dashed out as soon as I can.
The hospital, here I am.
I’m coming for my friend.
Forgot my get-well cards and my flowers were in my car.
I rushed out to be surprised that my Uber is still there.
I went to him and said “GET OUT OF THE CAR NOW.”
I didn’t like to be late
And did grand theft auto for laughs
I sped then crashed
And went out from the bash
Back in the hospital
I was placed next to my friend
“Hey, at least I gave you a visit, but your gifts missed it.”
And then I knocked out
Untitled, by Nicole Diaz (10)
Their coiled throats were dry, thirsty
Untangling strategically,
Placed veins triggered catastrophe.
Knives held to jugulars
The worlds were at conflict;
Parched, the man in the high castle muttered through his mustache;
He wanted more wine.
The deep shade of red,
tainting his tongue not yet satisfactory;
The bitter taste aroused images of snow painted red
For frost was few in his homeland.
He wanted more land– have it his way;
All land will be his.
All men will raise their arms.
Yes.
Greedy,
His golden touch dripped, wet with blood
He sat tall, proud;
in his high castle.
His men knee-deep in the Russian winter
Ready to slaughter those unwilling
in the name of their dictator.
Bow down to the new world order,
or be gifted with easy death–
no time to spare.
The man still sat, chest out;
Proud of what was to come–
His men however cold, unaccustomed;,
fought savagely.
Staining the snow beautifully,
Bodies fell as the Russians grew in numbers.
The ground, no longer seen
The man in the high castle sat proud.
Ignorant,
As the men with the raised arms lay dead,
Only one raising his hand– trembling
In hand, there was white.
Police Officer, by Rachel Watkins (11)
He walks the beat as people glare
They call him nasty names and he does nothing
He is assaulted and shot at
They call it self-defense
But when he defends himself it’s called
Police Brutality
He’s called to a house for a domestic dispute
He walks in and sees a battered child
A woman is crying and bloody
A man being hauled out in cuffs
He has to bite his tongue as the man walks passed
The stuff he’s seen is burned into his memory
He’s seen someone’s son lying dead in the street
A mother collapsed in his arms at the sight of her child
He hears the screams in his sleep
He’s shot someone and heard the cries of their loved ones
He couldn’t save that child and he blames himself
He risks his life everyday for people who hate him
He’s the sheepdog that keeps the sheep safe from the wolves
When he goes anywhere he sits with his back to the wall
He is on high alert everyday, so him and his partner can make it home alive
Untitled, by Tobi Magas (11)
A bird without wings is at best an imitation
doomed to spend it’s life on the ground
I wonder If they know what life has stolen from them
If they look longingly to the sky
And wish for flight
To escape above the clouds
Watching
Seeing Creatures light as air weave between clouds
I wonder if they take for granted their ability
Those who fly so freely
I wonder if they too would mourn the absence of their working wings
if suddenly grounded
Before my eyes I see just this
From the sky falls the white feathers of a peace bringer
Not gentle nor slowly
But with the sudden aggression of angry god
Pierced by an arrow of injustice
Though it’s decent quick
It’s death is slow
Held fixed to the earth
Stillness fills it
The air stagnant as lead
The Door, by Natalie Lilge (10)
I was left home alone and continuously peered at the door
My mind untensed as I heard my brother snore
I reassured myself with soothing words
“There’s no need to be scared”
But for what was to happen next, my heart was unprepared
A shade of vibrant lavender appeared in my window
Bewilderment raced through my mind
I was awoken by a thunderous sound
The outcome was unkind
The fellow rang my doorbell like a madman
He looked remorseless, uncivilized, cunning
His stone cold, callused face convinced me to start running
Pellets of sweat drip-dropped down my face although the house was cold
My ribcage locked, my face went pale, I was only twelve years old
I shut off the TV and glanced at the window unsure of what to do
Was the shadowy figure trying to break in?
For that I had no clue
I ran to the bathroom, locked the door and notified my dearest friend
I felt my life flash before my eyes
Would this ever end?
The man who resembled Mona Lisa was no longer lingering at my door
And though he’s gone and it’s been so long
He’ll be here forever more
The fellow rang my doorbell like a madman
The man who resembled Mona Lisa was no longer lingering at my door
Drip-dropped
Pellets of sweat drip-dropped down my face although the house was cold
Bewilderment raced through my mind
Home is where the heart is, by Destiny Pagan (11)
Eyes of beggars searching for shelter
Wishing and hoping they could do better
No food or home; alone
Roaming like mindless drones
Can’t remember the last time they took a shower
Time passes like cars during rush hour
They starve and shiver
There is no food to give her
Cardboard signs wither
They imagine red ruby slippers on their tired feet
Dreaming of a place to sleep
There is no place like home you say
The problem is they have no place to stay
Determined dumpster diving for dessert
Munching on stale crumbs and dirt
Exhausted and covered in a loud rancid stench
Sleep on a rigid frigid and unforgiving park bench
With a childlike gaze they reach out their hands
Into them loose change and expired chips crashland
What a beautiful world; a wonderful life
Full of countless disappointment and endless strife
No matter gender or race
We all desire loves embrace
To love and be loved, is all they’re asking
That’s what this world is lacking
Open your eyes and see what’s happening
There once was a man from Ohio, by Francisco Siaca (12)
There once was a man from Ohio
His name sparked fear and trial
People scream as he walks, Oh!
His steps thunder earth, echoing through a mile
This man was huge, and a brute
He could stomp a village with his boot
His shouts were loud, as if they were gunfire (Simile)
When girls saw him, they could not shriek higher (Hyperbole)
One day, in marched a brave young boy
He was as clever as Judas at ploys (Allusion)
He said he’d stop this horrid madness
And the town rejoiced, feeling no more sadness
The boy climbed the world high mountain (Imagery)
The home of the giant
His fingers bellowed in pain (personification)
But his courage still remain
At the top, a sword was drawn
From the cave, echoed a sob
The boy inched up, slowly losing his brawn
And in the cave was a giant crying slob
Cautiously, the boy asked what was the matter
The giant wiped his tears, and roared out of his gabber
I have no friends, said the giant (Irony)
And went back to cryin’
The boy retracted his sword in a pitiful haste
And walked up to the giant, even if it meant becoming paste
He patted his back, with a reassuring flare
On the top of the mountain, the tears die down, soon no sound in the air
Hurricane, by Nabeeha Vorajee (9)
The sky dripping like a leaky faucet
As Zeus begins creating a storm
The windows getting water across it
As people go inside to get warm
The sky starts to rumble
As the water drips down the drain
And people began to grumble
Oh great it’s starting to rain
Cars splashing the sidewalk
An old lady saving her gnome
People not stopping for small talk
People rushing to get home
By this time the rain is crashing
The trees are waving around
Not a single child is splashing
In the rain as it pours down
Water leaks through the floor
The lake begins to overflow
The rain hammering at the door
As the wind will forever blow
The day quickly turns into night
And the news is up to date
There is not a human in sight
A few go to sleep since it’s late
Hurricane Irma passed through
The storm kept going up North
The skies turned to a pretty blue
And it went so on and so forth
3 birds and a flame, by Todd Ferrante (9)
The 3 birds sat on the hot window seal
The light from inside the house shined through onto their soft white feathers
While the light from the sun reflected off of their dark black eyes
Soon a loud crash was heard.
A crash you could hear a mile away
The crash of a thunderbolt.
The crash hit near home
Fire began to burst
The birds didn’t shriek, they roared. With the might of a lion
For there home, would be no more
The 3 birds sat on the roof of the burning house
They didn’t want to leave their only home
They sat there feeling the flames burn their feet
They were worried. Not for themselves
But for their home
Birds never leave their home
Flashing lights could be heard nearby
The firefighters had came to save the birds
The firefighters didn’t want those poor birds to die
But the birds didn’t care
They lost all they had
Without a home
And without anywhere to go
The birds decided to leave their old, burnt home behind
The 3 birds began to fly south
In search for another place to call home
Untitled, by Luke Kollmeyer (11)
She has the beauty of the Kardashians on crack
She has the love in her heart like a box of chocolates
Like milk chocolate
Like red flowers
Like warm Lava
The joy she brung is when you get accepted in a great college
Who is she
Shes the lady that cooked amazing food
She’s the lady who would joke with me
Say I’m gringo
And tell me to go to hell
But say it all in spanish so I wouldn’t know
Til my cousin bryan would tell me so
She’s the lady who watched over dramatic hispanic shows
She’s my Tia
She’s my Tia
She probably lived a hard long life
She probably suffered so much pain
I know like the feeling of a long sharp knife “ `
But in the end she kept her sane
She’s long gone now and a part of me is happy
Because she no longer has to breath that chain
That chain keeps us as a people down
But also brings us up
And make us evil
and great
It’s pain
Pain is stuck in our DNA
So I should be only happy
No more suffering for her
But I’m not I also wish that she could stay one more day
Suffer maybe just one more day
So that I can stay joyful just one more day
Just one more day