Author: Natalia P.

Space

Space, there’s so much space filled with dangers & adventures
So many questions to be answered
Each unique in its own way
Each special and daring
Each positive and daunting
Each wanting and needing
And all about every possibility in space
In a universe filled with questions
So many answered and so many left blank, space

Highland Park Elementary

3

Dust

I set my heart to sail for you

Alone, adrift my nomad soul
On wings of wax flew
A traveler still in search of home.

A single springy curl of moss
Loamy earth and rotting bark
To the wind my voice is lost
Silence sleeps here in the dark.

Remains of you are all I am
As our bodies break into clay, silt, and sand
The ground that I walk will be bed to us both
May we settle softly into the cradle of time’s hand.

No matter how far from home I roam
Underfoot my destination warmly awaits.

Should friend and family first depart
Lovely child, take heart
For we are mud and air
But dust with thought.

LC Anderson High School

11

A

A

I walked into the room
Like I came back from the moon
I didn’t get a B or a C or an F on the test
I am the best
I was so happy I could jump into space
Or run an Olympic race
I felt like jumping on a chair
And roaring like a bear
A 100,000 guys couldn’t stop me
Because I didn’t get a C.

Gorzycki Middle School

7

A Pathway

You can stay on a path and never look back even though there’s nothing.
You can give up before an ending.
You can start and win for the first time.
You can get a game over.
Maybe you aren’t good enough.
Maybe other people are simply better.
Or they have more experience than you.
Anyone can get better but what’s the cost?
Even with all of these factors, people will always dream.
And people will always achieve their dreams.

Gorzycki Middle School

7

Win Or Lose

Winning
What is it for
What does it mean?
What is the purpose?
Does it even matter
Who wins or loses?

In war winning is killing others
In games winning is knocking others down
So why do we do it?
It’s as harsh as an eagle kicking its chicks out of the nest

Why do we have “winners”
And “losers”
In the end isn’t everyone a winner?
At at least something?

Do we get joy out of winning?
Or is it just the feeling of triumph over others?
Seriously what does it mean?

If we only had winners and losers then would the world just go
Win
Win
Win
Lose
Win
Lose
Lose
???

I just don’t see the point of having to say someone wins
And someone possibly dies…

Gorzycki Middle School

7

Cactus Poem

Cacti Love Winter
It’s their break from posing all the time
Posing for pictures
For postcards
And even the occasional western movie set
It hard to stand still that long
I mean you try standing still in a weird pose for over eight HOURS
While Plants grow on you
And lizardsssss crawl up you
It’s the worst

But during winter, Cacti have all the fun
They kick up their non-existent feet
And they watch tumbleweeds blow by
And play their trumpets
As clouds FLY by
They say goodbye to sorrows
And dance like trees on windy day

Cacti take long naps
They talk about their friends who live in pots and greenhouses
And how they have it made for them.
Cacti can crack open imaginary Diet cokes
Cacti can sleep the days away
And cherish every cold breeze
Of their cold break

For Cacti winter is their
Long
lllooonnnng
Deserved break

Gorzycki Middle School

7

trumpet

I look up when I play,
Only to see how beatiful you are,
And hope you know your meaning to my life
The sounds you make are the most beautiful I know
Oh trumpet,

Without you I would be lost
I was lost before you found me
When you found me,
You took me in
And brought me deep into this musical world

And showed me what its like to be a musician
Whether its a good day or a bad day
I can look to you to make it good or better

So thank you, I love you

Gorzycki Middle School

7

The Route

I could tell you that life is easy.
I could also tell you that life is rough,
That you won’t see something’s coming.
But whether you believe me or not,
All depends on how far you’ve traveled.

If you still sit in the backseat,
If you are still sheltered behind closed doors,
And tinted windows
You may think life is easy.

But as you move up in the car,
The windows start to stare at you
And you stare back.

Some people
Choose to completely ignore the road ahead,
Distracted by everything around them.
Taking every chance they get to stop and stare.

But others
Are so focused on the road in front of them,
They never take the time to look around.
Ignoring all the roads they could’ve taken.

One day,
You will be in the front seat.
You will have to keep your eye on the road,
But you’ll also have to read the signs.

When you reach your last stop on the route,
Tell me
Was it worth it?
Was the journey better than the destination?
It all depends on what you
Believed.

Gorzycki Middle School

7