Poems and Lyrics from the 2023 Creative Writing Club

Note from Owen:

So, I'm transferring a bunch of stuff from the Creative Writing Club Library. These were all in one doc together, so that's how they will be here, as many of them don't have titles, and I definitely don't have time to create an individual page for all 53 of them.

Jackson Temple 10/18/22

A New Beginning

A new world,

A piece heard,

A word, observed.

A lyric ringing,

A verse singing.

A place for creativity,

A place for critique,

Learn a new technique,

Instruct with civility,

And grow together.

Leave behind art forever.

Bethany Pattee 10/25/22

This Lovely Flower Array

I stand relaxed as I deeply inhale

And my eyes study every detail

Of every flower in each bouquet

In this lovely flower array

Each and every stem

Carries a beautiful flower

And each and every flower

Stands on a beautiful stem

Red and pink and purple and blue

Orange and yellow and burgundy too

Every shade of every color

Fills the room throughout the summer

I smile and thank the Lord

For this charming place I do adore

And for every flower in each bouquet

In this lovely flower array

Levi Smith 11/7/22

Armistice

The trenches have been filled in.

The guns have been stopped,

the airplanes grounded, and the ships docked.

The officers stopped shouting and the tanks were ordered to halt.

But the boys are still dying.

Oh, they're still dying, in trench lock.

Jackson Temple 11/11/22

Grim

Darkness falling with murderous intent.

Grim pictures, maybe memories, breathe…

Fate calls and calls, the sound far too loud, death

A monster. Life a struggle; a disease.

Each life a clock striking midnight. Each person

hears their final chime a different time

just or not, always their symptoms worsen

and the finished result, death brought by grim.

BREATHE. Slow your thoughts, quiet raucous fear.

Life must end, darkness must win in his time.

Think back on life, is it time to die here?

Impossible to know the final design.

Am I a coward for fleeing my death?

                                                    A. Deep. Final. Breath.

Jackson Temple 11/29/22

Worth

A store, a door.

I wonder what is inside.

Worth, value, items people want.

Their value is given entirely by want.

People want what they can’t have, so it has value.

What people can’t have the most is what they want.

What they want could be in their grasp, but do they want it?

Do we have worth, does a me have worth.

Does a me, have value.

Am I wanted.

Do people care when I am around.

Should I be around?

Jackson Temple 12/2/22

Stuck in a rut,

A simple routine,

A withering season.

Filling a status quo,

With no reason

To grow.

Jackson Temple 12/9/22

Pieces on a table.

She reaches out, one piece to another.

He sits.

And sits.

For he cannot see the answer.

She reaches out, a third piece.

He looks.

And looks,

But cannot move an inch.

She takes his hand, places a fourth.

He thinks.

And thinks.

She places a fifth.

His world, immovable, his mind, empty.

She places a sixth.

He knows, only her.

She places a seventh.

He sees only her.

She places an eighth.

He sits.

She places a ninth.

He blinks.

She is gone.

He stands.

He reaches out.

He places the tenth.

Jackson Temple 12/5/22

A humble home.

A silent scape.

A gentle shape.

A dangerous escape.

Running, stumbling, hiding,

Dividing, deciding, leaving behind.

A safe home.

A safe life.

A ruined home,

A family divided,

A mother deciding.

Left behind.

Forgotten, left, hidden.

A path unclear,

A harsh frontier.

A life to live,

Apart from them.

Jackson Temple 12/10/22

Switching up.

My mind feeling CoRuPT,

Emotion ready to erupt—

*Click*

Smiling,

Joking,

Crying

Doing Great.

Going,   down.

Being real,

Acknowledging

Feeling, being, honesty,

Bereft of me,

*Click*

Doing Good.

Slipping out of my fake trance,

Give my own brain a chance,

Not a somber dance,

A distraction,

*Click*

Feeling Alright.

Feeling Despite.

Jackson Temple 12/12/22

Stuck. in place.

An unwelcome case,

Unable to leave.

Unable to grieve.

Piercing eyes slate,

And hearts hate.

Persona non grata,

Inside my own mind.

Jackson Temple 12/16/22

A Butterfly flitting

Deceptively lilting

An artificial attraction,

With a caption: “The Star”

But one mistake,

You’re done.

The end of your run,

The door spun.

The popularity fake.

A Butterfly, wilting.

Naomi Eutsler 12/16/22

Rock

You walked into my life by accident,

Showed up by providence.

Became my rock,

My foundation.

You became the solid bedrock

That this swaying one needed.

When I’m flustered you smile,

When I’m angry you calm me.

When I’m sad you cheer me up,

You are my perfect half.

Fate does not exist,

But neither does luck.

And you showed up when I needed you,

When I was at my lowest.

You shared your life with me.

You share your time with me.

You share your love with me.

That time when you were sad,

I helped cheer you.

That time when you were angry,

I helped calm you.

That time when you were overwhelmed,

I shared the burden.

Thank you, forever and always.

For all you did for me.

And for all you continue to do for me.

Jackson Temple 12/20/22

The captain of lies:

Back again to convince me.

They are alone; I am alone

But I can bridge the gap,

I can pave the way and pay the painful price.

Despite the cost,

Despite the loss.

Anna Haagenson 12/20/22

As the absent snow falls from the sky

The snow that falls way up high

The only snow we'll get tonight

Are the stars that shine int he middle of the night

Now, you might not see it

You mightn't even dare

To gaze upon the stars

Dancing through the sky

But if you sneak a look

Up to the moonlit sky

You might see a ballet dancer

Pirouetting across the sky

Jackson Temple 12/21/22

Reading a book is a fine thing.

Nothing can quite compare,

For in your mind

There is a kind,

Of brilliance to find.

Your mind a safe,

Full of color.

An author a master of making keys,

A professional scholar.

Not for a dull number,

If that were the case we would only slumber!

Instead, there are books,

unlike any other,

For us to read one after another.

Time goes by,

More slowly I think.

When our plans get a little kink.

You predict, when it might occur,

And truth be told they cause quite a stir.

Plans are fragile, much like glass.

Much weaker than copper and brass,

And we can only see the flaws, when the whole pane is broken.

You cannot put them back together,

That plan is gone forever.

Jackson Temple 1/6/23

The Moral of Shalott

A maiden floating softly

The boat a meager vessel,

In comparison to her.

Her culture costly,

Cursed.

The ideals lofty—

They whisper softly.

From her tower she was missed,

Her feelings dismissed.

Her life hollow,

In the midst of her sorrow.

Her only wish consists of death.

Her mind drifts,

As with her ship.

Many watch.

None act.

Many see.

None question.

Until his decree,

“None is prettier than thee!”

But she does not hear,

For her soul is no longer near.

Hannah Mizuno 1/9/23

Crescent Moon

The crescent moon and the city

Incomplete but dazzlingly brimming

With the past, present, and future

Neither new nor full in structure

A midway point, almost there

The moment we shine our silver beam everywhere

Jackson Temple 1/11/23

Inadequacy  

The thought, slowly growing.

Inadequacy, practically overwhelming.

Dramatically, emphatically, I wish it all away.

I can see the yelling, that soulless condemning.  

Living life for another.

Seeing only grey through that heads up display.

Unable to convey, I’ve strayed honestly forgotten to pray.

Lord help me keep me, from the thoughts of my own mind.

You sent Your Son to save my kind, but I disobey, I fall apart.

I need a restart,

I need help fixing,

Avoiding that inadequacy, so closely held to me.

I’m constantly missing the point, slowly dying yet…

Where am I?

What have I done with the time I’m given?

I think of religion, tradition, and indecision.

To lazy to achieve, too dumb to realize YouTube and Netflix won’t get me anywhere in life.

I don’t learn I don’t achieve,

Instead, I watch a life on my screen.

Sitting here writing when I should be busy,

Sadly, slowly listening to the same song.

What I’m doing is wrong,

But again, I think inadequacy.

A little pawn,

A big board.

A piece above, none below.

Yet I have so much potential.

I can become a rook, even a queen.

But I can’t choose.

What to be.

No going back,

The right choice must be made.

Will they like it?

Do I care?

I obviously do.

I won’t say its despair, I’m luckier than most.

A family that loves me, and a grade most would want.

But I constantly compare,

Fall into that maiming snare.

My mind in disrepair,  

But my prayer ends.

So does my life.

So does yours.

What we leave behind is not what we gained, but what we did.

What did I do for others,  

What did I accomplish,

Who did I leave behind.

Confined in my own mind,

Inadequacy is there.

What I leave behind is what I write,

the grades I get could matter less,

My story holds more value.

What will my story be,  

I will find out by being me.

Inadequacy is there.

Life is ticking out,

Let’s make something of it.

Brooklyn Crosby 1/16/23

The Lonely Orphan’s Call

A child lays her head upon a narrow piece of oak,

The heartbeats of ten others she hears beating like a drum

Her sister’s eyes stay closed as the silent clock strikes twelve

Yet open are her own, as she remembers mom and dad.

The orphanage may be a home for others like her kind,

But never in a hundred years, will she forget her mother’s eyes.

The hum of Mother’s lullabies and melodies of life,

Echoing the everlasting elegance of time

Thirteen winters this child breathed and dined,

Without a father who whispered “good night”

No one would laugh to shake the ground,

For never is he there to make that joyful sound.

What if the past years lived on a day longer?

What if her father had called on his daughter?

What if the child, and her sister went home?

What if they were stranded again on their own?

The years of the past will bury her deep,

For six feet under are where her parents sleep.

The darkness of the orphanage engulfs all wonder

Her mind rages and blackens to thunder

The snores of her roommates and sister remain

Quiet is the home of the homeless and the chained

Never forget the empty and the small

For one must always remember this lonely orphan’s call.

Hannah Mizuno 1/17/23

Alice Blue

One day it’s roaring currents shattering your ears

Then the quiet trickle of a stream on another.

Then it just stops.

Yourself, dripping

The proof it ought to be

After the wild tossing and turning.

But then you do a double take;

It’s only deceptive heaviness.

The weight you feel isn’t real

The raging waves didn’t exist

The pearls you saw were illusions

The fishes, brilliant with all colors imaginable,

Were fabrications.

You rub your eyes, feel your skin

Smell your hair for any trace of salt;

Any hint of the seawater of your dreams.

Nothing.

Then, you sink.

Because, as intense as it was, you miss it.

You miss the ocean’s blessings and wrath

You miss the floating and drowning;

That thin line between nothing and everything.

But——

You’re thankful you’re here and alive.

Jackson Temple 1/18/23

TW//Grief/Death

Apathy

Death makes no sense.

Sadness makes no sense.

Why do I make no sense?

Everyone feels, so much.

I honestly feel a little out of touch,

(See what I did there)

A little separated and confused.

Sadness never infiltrated my defenses, but shouldn’t it already be inside?

Maybe let down the gate, get some sadness out?

Hmm, not quite.

Not even a bit of spite,

A whole lotta nothing, I guess apathy isn’t nothing, it’s something but, something of nothing.

I’m getting distracted.

Death.

I guess with Christ it makes sense.

Maybe that’s why I don’t cry like everyone else.

I’m living life, but shouldn’t I cry a little too?

Why do I meet a girl and feel so much,

But lose family and not feel the same.

My mind FORCING a game.

Emotions don’t feel real,

Unless I’m choking down a meal.

Feeling sick to my core, but I’m used to it.

You get used to it.

Constant anxiety, settling, making a home for himself.

It’s so real, when it makes no sense.

Make it make sense.

Naomi Eutsler 1/21/23

The thoughts before sleep

Writing this with no editing at all.

While being awake when I should be Asleep, for it’s not quite eleven thirty-three.

The day was long, that’s for sure.

School and chores, and much much more.

But it was boring, ever so boring.

The week was long, sad and cold.

A fight with a friend, drama and all.

Life as a teen is very long.

16 coming up soon too.

Another year another age.

My part yet to be played.

Told to move on if the chance comes.

But how to do that when my heart belongs yet to him.

Tired of life, cold and bleak.

Trying to see the good in it.

Falling short when taking the leap.

Rhyming when I should be asleep.

What to say and what to do,

When no one knows but u,

What goes on inside your head,

In the time before u fall asleep,

The thoughts going oh so deep.

I’m sick of rhyming,

But don’t want to sleep.

So rhyming I shall keep.

This week was interesting that’s for sure.

A rough start, a rocky middle.

But an end that seemed to calm the soul.

A chat with a friend, not heard from in weeks.

Awkward conversation,

What to do now,

When friends you still are,

but nothing more.

I tire of thinking

I tire of feeling

The pain is slowly fading.

I’m not there yet,

But will be soon.

The thoughts that creep in, right before sleep,

Are always the darkest…

Don’t you think?

Viola Lund 1/26/23

Bottom Lockers

Who knew I would be stuck all year,

Dealing with having a bottom locker fear.

Swarms of kids in a hallway are already enough,

But having a bottom locker is just tough.

Let me explain,

I’m not trying to complain,

But just telling my experience outright plain.

Imagine running to your locker,

And getting nearly knocked off your rocker.

Or people crowding and chatting in your space,

When your unknown in the circle trying to tie your shoelace.

What about the top locker kids?

Get the idea of your head connecting to their locker lid.

Diving through the legs of the pal upstairs,

At least this time I did not have to climb four flights of stairs.

Hey, I am not trying to ruin your day,

But I have more to say.

My tips to you all who have a bottom locker.

Learn to be a fast walker,

Unless you want to crawl through the legs of talkers.

Stay clear of falling objects,

Especially if they’re binders for seven subjects.

Be able to say “Excuse me.”

Incase they’re blocking your locker with their knee.

Anyways, hope it goes well for all you bottom lockerers.

Naomi Eutsler 1/27/23

Build us up.

A group chat at midnight,

No end to the convo in sight.

Building each other up high,

So high we can touch the sky.

The climb is a long one,

But we have each other.

The three of us together.

Stronger than ever.

All think the others are the best.

Thinking ourself behind the rest.

A writer who thinks their characters,

Lack a depth to entertain.

But in reality, a story so engaging,

A plot so interesting,

A best seller not a hard thing to attain.

A poem wiz, amazing with his words.

Never thought anything would come,

Not knowing the lives touched,

By just being honest with his thoughts.

A jack of all trades, master of none.

But not true at all!

Book reviews to enticing,

Essays revised,

A’s given because,

She takes the time to love and care,

With all the time she has to spare.

Ahonima (Nima) Mau 1/29/23

Why do I Wear a Mask?

Walking into the living room,

Wearing a comforting mask for my family,

Trying to please them happily.

Thinking to myself,

When do I leave?

Should I leave?

Would that make them believe in me?

By leaving to university and studying peacefully?

But if I go they maybe disappointed.

What if my grades suffer? What if I suffer?

“You’ve got to be tougher”

“Stop being so rough on her”

“Your face is getting puffier”

Shouldn’t I be happier?

Stepping outside,

Wearing an enthusiastic mask for the world,

Making me hurl,

About to feel impaled.

Entering school,

Wearing a confident mask for all the kids to see,

Coming with a slight fee of popularity

Which also stings like a bee.

Endless pressure applies to my appearance.

Get skinnier be prettier,

Do your hair,

But that’s not fair!

I really shouldn’t care, but I do

I don’t want to but I do

Going out with friends,

Wearing an empathetic mask to solve their problems,

But who will help me to solve them?

I can’t do this on my own!

I need help!

Does that make me weak?

Does that make me a freak?

I’m my own worst critique,

Hating on my physique,

I just want to leave.

I keep wearing a mask for everyone to see,

But when do I finally just get to be me?

Jackson Temple 1/30/23

Truth - pt.1

Legions fight,

Full of spite.

The walls hold fast,

Protecting inside.

A single word,

A truth—

Crashing.

Burning.

Destruction left behind

That wall no more.

The kingdom inside struck,

Directly to its core.

Behind the wall, not evil, not joy.

Instead, truth.

Truth with consequence.

A changer of confidence,

Ideas.

Synonymous with

Truth.

Actions have meaning,

Words can be demeaning,

Or they can challenge,

Change and grow.

There is a chance for change,

Or a platform of hate.

Words to create,

Or commands to dictate.

The words chosen,

Change.

The world they are in,

And the speaker.

The spoken has weight,

The read has an innate,

Ability to change.

You never noticed,

You never thought.

You never understood.

You never tried.

You misunderstood.

You didn’t know.

Words helped someone grow,

Simple words.

Words worked to win praise.

Perhaps for no reason.

Jackson Temple 1/30/23

Truth - pt.2

Truth.

Starting a blaze,

Stoking a passion.

Giving hope and meaning.

A reminder of power.

The power of words.

My words can have an impact.

Pursue it.

Chase it.

Make it happen.

If I stop,

I can’t.

One person,

One person could hear truth.

Words are the source.

They could be mine,

Maybe not.

There is meaning,

In words.

That much I know is truth.

The rest,

I will find out soon.

Anna Haagenson 1/30/23​​

The night Provides Comfort

A floating abyss

away from humanity

something amiss

but nothing comes to mind

This void of nothingness

soft and comforting

I would expect nothing less

As I continue to drift

The stars light up my face

The moon says hello

The comets pick up the pace

The sun starts to show

Dawn breaks through the window

the night retreats to my mind

I'll just wait for tomorrow

for the sun starts to rise

The day passes in a blur

just one thing I'm thinking about

blankets soft like fur

a bed all prepped and ready

The stars light up my face

The moon says hello

The comets pick up the pace

The sun starts to show

I'll stare out my window on a sleepless night

comforted by the sky

the stars shining ever so bright

glowing as I nod off to sleep

Once again I dream of a void

a place where my troubles float away

instead of acting like a droid

true feelings tug at my heart

The stars light up my face

The moon says hello

The comets pick up the pace

The sun starts to show

Abigail Clementz 1/31/23​​

Let us inside!

They beg

You see the hunger that floods their eyes

But they sound so kind

Words like honey seep into your heart

But they stab your back like a dart

You trust them with your life

They said they’d protect you, right?

But oh, what a lie

The second you let them inside, their words turn to knives

Cutting you up with delight

How their words changed when they saw what you had hidden beneath

Suddenly they glare at you through bared teeth

Shame, shame, shame

We didn’t raise you to feel this way

You try to fight

But maybe they’re right

Slowly you join their side

Fighting against your own mind

Soon their weapons became a friend

Comforting you when no one else can

Maybe you can cut the feelings out;

Push them away--

But they continue to stay

Taunting your mind

Till you wish you just left them all inside

Silas Miller  1/31/23​​

I am GW I am here to say

All the things you know about me are made up in a major way

I was a really awful general

I almost lost the war

I wasn't ever pure

When I was mad I always swore

I didn't wear a wig

Didn't have wooden teeth

I like to tell lies

Didn't chop down that ol' cherry tree

I cane whipped one of my officers for all my men to see

And now you know what is false

You should feel major relief.

Thank you- this is historically accurate as well.

Abigail Clementz 2/1/23​​

I lie awake

Listening to you breath

The feeling is deeply bittersweet

Both of us are safe for now

Happy, even

But we both know it won't last

The world is against us

We push back But they all just laugh

Silly to think it could work

But that’s the weird thing about love

It doesn't make sense

You can’t put it in a box

Though that doesn't stop them from trying

It’s not right

So who cares if you’re crying

Life seems to detest you

And everyone in it, too

Yet somehow, it doesn’t matter

In that moment,

Im aware of the risks

I know what it will cost

But without you all i am is lost.

Aviendha Reedy 2/1/23

花の鼻

小さな桜

落ちてるな

English:

Flower on my nose

Small little cherry blossom

How soon will you fall?

Esther Noeth  2/2/23

Quiet

isn’t always silent.

sometimes,

it’s deafening.

eerie,

unsettling,

worrisome,

groaning,

whispering—

threatening.

and quiet

isn’t always gentle.

sometimes,

it’s harsh:

beating down,

stark,

unloving,

cruel,

painful—

it mars.

but quiet

can be necessary.

sometimes,

it’s fluttery:

kind,

refreshing,

soft,

peaceful,

gentle—

lovely.

Anna Haagenson  2/2/23

Spending my days with you

what sweet bliss

I hope you know I love you too

you're someone I'd miss

Not sure where this conversation's going

but I don't care as long as I'm with you

I couldn't go a day without you knowing

I don't want to spend my time with anyone but you

Because even though we're not lovers

we'll always be close friends

being there for one another

right until the end

You remind me of the teenage years I wish I had

Every single time we talk

The notion is going to drive me mad

Maybe I should just break the lock

We relate in so many different ways

Sometimes it makes me think we’re the same

There’s clarity where there’d usually be a maze

And for this there is no shame

Because even though we’re not lovers

We’ll always be close friends

Being there for one another

Right until the end

Oh, how I love you

Oh, how I miss you

Oh, how I want to meet you

Don’t leave, don’t leave don’t leave

Oh, how I love you

Oh how I miss you

Oh, how I want to meet you

Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave

Oh, how I love you

Oh, how I miss you

Oh, how I want to meet you

Don’t leave, don’t leave

Because even though we’re not lovers

We’ll always be close friends

Being there for one another

Right until the end

Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave

Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave

Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t-

Hannah Mizuno  2/3/23

I shiver as the cold creeps up my back

Fingertips numb

Shoulders slumped

And gaze downcast

Towards the world below my window

The wind groans in its isolation

The stream whispers quietly

The snowflakes, ever so fleeting, turn a blind eye

To the world of dusk it covers

Chilling

Hollowing

Yet crisp and wild and free

“That’s how I feel,

That’s how I long to be,”

I think to myself,

As I close the window shut;

A barrier between my whims and my heart

I still hear remnants of those twenty minutes

But absence always creates lies

Like the moon’s phantom beam

Borrowed from the sun

Winter is only but a frozen summer

And soon, its crystal magic, too,

Will melt with the wishes made in the cold

Vanessa Williams  2/10/23

If I saw your whole world is on fire,

I will jump into the flame

I will hold you up high above the blaze,

So you won't have to feel any shame

I will stay no matter how hot it gets

If it means you won’t feel the pain

When people start to look into the mess,

I will put it all under my name

The people would all be looking at me,

They won’t see you in the picture frame

I have given you the best disguise,

So no eye can be on your lane

We both know I am a very good crier,

So my tears will try to make it all extinguish away

I will always fall for all your games

But my question to you darling:

Would you do the same?

if you saw that my whole world was flooded,

You will give me more of your rain

I would be trying to escape this horror

But you will keep me there with your chains

You will hold me hostage under the water

For longer periods than I can sustain

You will forget that I’m human

Because you only care about your gain

You will see me struggle in any fashion,

And watch me slowly get untame

I won’t affect you if I don’t make it out,

But you act like you are so sane

I know that all you will wonder is,

“Who is my next victim that can satisfy my aim?”

Even after knowing all of this,

I will surely stay

This is the kind of love I deserve

It is not meant to be in any other way

I will always be your protector

To this very day

I will be right by your side enduring

Even if it is until my hairs turn grey

Who cares how I feel

When all that matters is if you are okay

You can do whatever you want with me

There will be no boundaries that I will lay

No more need for chasing again

When you are my predator and I am your forever-caught prey

Onyinyechi (Onyi) Ugochuku  2/18/23

They loved her best when she could not wake and see

The sweet affection pouring from their eyes.

To her it would have been a great surprise

To find that they, who loved to criticize,

And scold and tease, and speak so mockingly,

Loved her so strongly they’d not let her know.

They loved her best when she could not wake and hear

The gentle tones of quiet admiration.

She never heard them but in accusation,

But if she woke to hear their conversation,

She’d see at once that it was crystal-clear--

They loved her so strongly they’d not let her know.

They loved her best when she went to bed each night,

And then they sang the praises they refused

To tell her in the morning. She’d be confused

To find this out, or maybe just amused.

They only loved her when she was out of sight.

They loved her so strongly that it would not show.

Hallie Griffin  2/20/23

My dad, me, and Chat GPT made this poem for us XD

Northstar's writing club is quite grand, With creativity at their command. Hallie may struggle with rhymes, But Chat GPT can help her shine.

Poetry may not be Hallie's forte, But with Chat GPT, she finds her way. Together they can weave words so fine, That Northstar's writing club will surely shine.

So let's give a cheer for Hallie's verse, And the help of Chat GPT, which is no curse. For with their combined wit and skill, Northstar's writing club will conquer still!

Taylor Trombley  2/20/23

Little Flame

You see a tiny light

Shining so bright

It is a little flame on a candle

You hear a small crackle

And that makes you smile

The tiny flame has been burning for a while

So long that the candle is nearly gone

Stay strong little guy as your time is little

You hear a small crackle

And that makes you smile

The tiny flame on the candle goes out

As the last of the candle is gone

Your smile fades into a frown

And a tear runs down your face

You hear a crackle and turn around

You smile and rejoice as the little flame is on a new candle

Naomi Eutsler  2/28/23

Just keep up with the flow

Never let go,

Of what you need to know.

Seeing the light,

But never the end.

Never a reprieve or break.

Is this a sign from above,

That I should let go?

Cuz right now I do not know,

Where to go now?

Got to get my grades up,

But the zeros make it hard.

Go from 60 to 70.

But because Im behind, I go back down to 50,

Because I do not know, Where to go now?

What I’m supposed to know,

Was the English late yet?

Was it the math that needs a redo?

Was it the science that has a test?

Was it geography that had that submission?

Putting aside the things I like,

Because I don't have time. Can't take a brake. Can't stop now.

I see the light, Just a bit longer,

Falling deeper,

Don't let go.

Can't play till its 80%,

Can't sleep just yet,

Five more minutes to work.

But I forgot the chores, The dishes and trash,

The dogs and the laundry,

Sitting for me at home.

Can't take a break yet… Not yet…

But what to do now?

I don't want to keep going. Just going to sit here and sleep

Maybe for eternity

I don't really know.

Abigail Clementz  2/28/23

He can be fixed

you know he can

Youre so different yet the same

And yeah, he doesn’t even know your name

But you can see it in his eyes

He just needs someone to be nice

It starts with a simple “hi”

Next thing you know he’s the most important thing in your life

It’s just tough love

You tell yourself

He's only yelling because he’s hurt

Inside I'm sure he’s gentle as a bird

His words sting and twist and turn

But you’re convinced he’ll learn

Maybe if you’re just kinder

He’ll see eventually

After all, he was nice to you yesterday

When will you learn?

His promises were never more than empty words

His mind was not yours to change

You do not deserve this pain

Open your eyes

It’s so plain

Oh dear girl, he will never change

Eliana Lane 2/28/23

Summer nights

I remember summer nights

In the middle of June

When there’s no more lights

Except for the moon.

I remember playing hide and seek by night,

And the fireflies appearing at twilight,

The neighbors coming over, bringing their kids and teens,

With big dreams and faded jeans.

There’s a warm breeze,

The crackling of the campfire,

The soft whistling of the wind in the trees,

And the smoke of the fire getting higher and higher.

Last day of school

The breeze is cool,

but the air is warm.

It’s the last day of school,

And the hallways are a storm.

We’ll say goodbye to all our friends,

And search the desks for missing pens.

We’ll exchange phone numbers,

And plans for the summer,

As we pack up our papers, pencils and past plans.

There’s the buzzing of the bell,

And that old classroom smell,

And we’ll try not to cry,

As we say goodbye.

On an Airplane Somewhere over the Ocean

Wearing a big sweatshirt, and an old pair of joggers,

On a airplane with business men and bloggers.

I’m seated on a fake grey leather seat,

And the window is covered in sleet.

I’m lightheaded and weary;

I feel like a kid with too little sleep.

The airplane jumps all the sudden,

As I fall of to sleep somewhere over the ocean.

Stacia Stetson 3/3/23

Midnight

The darkness settles

Peace, silence, venust; midnight

Stardust gleams above

The hoot of an owl

As it soars across the sky

Imparting wisdom

The chirps of crickets

Filling up the nighttime air

Euphonious sounds

Above moonlight shines

Cutting through swaying branches

Illuminating

The darkness settles

Silent yet still full of life

Stars casting bright light.

Jackson Temple 3/8/23

SP L IT

Living a part,

A piece in the wheel.

Failing to stand apart,

Ordinary the ideal.

A Suit, a Cheque,

Keeping Check.

AL WAYS CH ECK ED

Alter Ego

                I am not real                                                                    

                                                                                                  I am the inability of verity

                                            I am false                                              

   I Am Not Me

                                                                                                                        Fake am I am liked

                                    I am wanted

Viola Lund 3/10/23

Words are spoken, written, sung, and acted out.

They flow out or are not said at all.

Words are put on paper, walls, metal, and social media.

They come in all forms.

Not just letters, but pictures and emojis.

Each word plays a part.

To communicate an emotion

Or to complete a sentence structure.

Words are everywhere.

They can tear or build.

Just one word,

Can change something.

Just one word,

Can help someone.

Just one word,

Can mean a whole lot to a society.

So, think carefully,

About even just one word.

Naomi Eutsler 3/10/23

Forget/My fault

Words i didn't mean to say

Tumbling out, without a thought,

For what it may do,

To the two I care about.

Didn’t mean to hurt them.

Falling away from my friend.

Growing closer to another,

Knowing nothing will happen,

Letting it go on and on.

Because it made me feel better.

But hurt them in the process.

Turning it all off,

The emotions and the feelings.

Don’t let it show,

That I’m breaking and bending,

With the weight of it all.

When he says I love you,

Memories are all I have.

Memories of another I can't reach.

Another I hurt,

Another that I have to leave.

A shadow over it all.

Wearing my heart on my sleeve

Braking piece by piece.

Shards flying around,

Like Daja Vu of him.

Can’t think of him.

See the one in front of me.

But how can I love him when,

I still have the memories of “Him”

Snapping and telling him it wont work

Can see him braking and bending

“You caused that…”

“You hurt him…”

“Did it on purpose…”

So many voices at once

Saying its all my fault.

Blocking it off.

Don’t feel a thing.

“Why remember when its easier to forget.”

Wish they would forget about me.

And move on.

Because they deserve the world and the stars.

Just unlucky they met me first.

So ill turn it off.

To protect them more than me.

Im already broken.

But I can protect them.

By staying away.

I love you.

But I cant tell you that ever again.

Im sorry.

For all I did to you.

Im so tired of it all.

Gonna lay in the dark.

And sleep.

Maybe I wont wake up.

Sleep forever.

Never hurting another.

So tired and drained.

If I dont wake tomorrow,

Know I’m sorry to you.

And if by chance you see this.

In some world or dream.

Know I’m sorry.

Dream of better days.

A brighter future ahead.

Hannah Mizuno 3/22/23

Coffee Thoughts

Coffee only punctuates this headache

But I sip on anyways

Because what else is there to do?

When it hits you out of the blue?

Spring is here, everything’s fine

Yet the tiniest thing lights the fire

I don’t want to look back

One day at a time, do that!

I know I am near

But seeing everyone in their own stratosphere

Takes me back to the corner I left

Sipping coffee, and begging for what’s best

For me

Bitter or sweet

As long as I can find

What’s mine

Naomi Eutsler 4/10/23

Confession/Honest Truth

I had a dream last night.

Nothing unusual , but you were there.

First time I’d seen you in months.

Didn’t know what I was missing.

Till I lost my best friend.

I lost my best friend last week.

Got ghosted without a word,

I lost my best friend last week.

What do you need from me?

What can I do to fix this?

I have a hidden photo album of you.

Every picture you sent,

Every word you wrote to me.

Couldn’t bare to look at it till now.

Cried for the first time in months.

I lost my best friend last month.

Haven’t heard from you in weeks.

What did I do?

How can I fix this?

I lost my best friend last month.

Not a word from your friends, left on read.

I send messages so you know I’m still here,

Not knowing if it’s enough.

Not knowing if I can fix it.

Did I talk about him too much?

Did I drive you off?

Did I not see how you felt behind the “I’m fine”.

Did I hurt my Best friend?

I lost my best friend.

Because of something I said?

It’s been three months now.

Left on read.

I don’t go a day without thinking about you.

Thinking of all I’d change.

That song stuck in my head.

I know it is my fault.

I know I hurt you.

I don't go a day without regretting it.

And thats the honest truth.

I lost my best friend.

Lost to the void of people I’ve left in my wake.

The broken trust and broken hearts.

Just another person I hurt on the list.

Maybe I’m giving myself too much credit.

Maybe Im not the reason you left me.

But I’m sorry.

Sorry for all I did.

Sorry for all those times I ignored,

The signs you gave.

I'm so sorry.

I lost my best friend.

And that's the truth.

Blake Crosby 4/27/23

A smile

The word like engulfing icebergs

Insight it looks simple

Outsite it seems plenteous

Like flickering sparks ready to illuminate

A mask

Tis what expressions ensure;

Concealed thoughts reverberate

Around a brick thick rough

Homesick mind confined.

Yet, a mask can be taken off.

Evacuate impervious tractions.

Apathic grins are fragmented hearts,

So why not find the one who

Can complete courageous smiles?

Naomi Eutsler 4/27/23

Shards/Edges

“You can’t love someone unless you love yourself first”

Those words have Haunted me for my life.

But I don't believe them.

I never loved myself,

But you, you I loved so much,

I forgot what hating myself felt like.

It was dark when I met you.

Cold and clammy.

Stormy and raining.

I love rain, but I forgot,

What the sun felt like.

You taught me how to feel again.

How to see the stars in the sky,

How to see the birds in the trees.

I'm not fixed yet.

But with you, I’ll get there.

Broken shards and pieces.

Working on putting it back,

One full picture, one full person.

Gonna feel again.

Gonna love again…

One day I'm gonna love me.

I still think you’re my best friend,

Teaching me how to love again.

Teaching me how to see again.

Pulling me out of the dark.

I'm getting there,

Can’t love yet…

But I’m working on it.

Broken shards, healing slowly.

A little glue and kindness,

Gonna be a full picture,

Gonna feel again.

Because I'm allowed to feel.

I haven’t moved on fully yet.

But I’m working on it.

Don’t wanna forget the past.

Not all of it.

Good with the bad.

Take it all together.

Cuz you need it to allow,

Yourself to feel again.

Bandaged and healing,

No more sharp edges,

No more broken shards.

I'm not there yet,

There will be some scars.

But I'm getting there,

Thanks to you.

Jackson Temple 5/14/23

The Wall

Measure my progress against the wall,

From last year, to now, has the mark risen higher.

Has that mark grown tall.

Or am I a liar,

Watching a clock tick by,

Wearing fake attire.

That spot on the wall,

The measure of my worth,

but while I’m at that wall,

time doesn’t stop, neither does the clock.

I sit and stare

I waste and talk.

I don’t believe myself,

Yet do when I talk down.

I only care about the negative,

I let my life be decorative;

I show off the mark, on my wall.

Proud of how far I’ve come,

Forgetting my goal was higher.

Jackson Temple 5/16/23

Flowers

If we were, a flower. Would we bloom early? Or, would we take our time.

Letting spring pass us, Waiting for a better,

Season.

Wait for a reason,

Never acting on our own.

Waiting, to die.

Never nourishing our love,

Helping it grow,

Never extending roots.

Flowers grow, to die. I hope we are not a flower, They never know when to bloom.

I’d rather choose with you

To be a tree.

To live a life of depth,

Not fleeting beauty.

Love deserves action,

Not fear.

Intentionality,

Not regret.

Communication,

Not. Tears.

Love deserves our time. And trees still bloom,

Leaves still shine.

Flowers fading, Satisfy the senses,

Leave the heart empty.

Love is more than a flower.

Mia Braun 5/2323

The Edge of Blue

Sadness sat  At the edge of blue  Simply sat  Nothing new

In the indigo shine  A tear or two  A clear sign  At the edge of blue

Happiness flew  So bright  Trying something new  In day of light

A change of color  In midst of flight  The air duller  With the ground reunite

Boom. Splat.  From yellow to blue  Sadness sat  The reason at view

Happiness stood  Dusty, confused  Blue wood  Blue bruised

Where is yellow? Where is shine? Why the mellow? Blue design?

A tear or two A clear sign  At the edge of blue;  No longer mine

Happiness took  The hand of mine  And shook Some light inside

No longer blue  Yellow returned  The Sun is new  Skin unburned

Better days ahead  No more hurting;  That being said  My heart emerging