Author: Celia H.

I like trees and clocks

I like trees and clocks.
I like clocks because they are gold and sparkling.

And I like trees because they are so tall and cool
and I like to climb them so much.

And a play on top of the trees
and I use the clocks to see the time so I know if am late or early.

And a climb trees to go away from the people
and not see my friends when I am mad of them.

I feel free when a go up on trees
and feel more like I am the only one in the world.

Berkman Elementary

4

The Guitar

The guitar
such a beautiful instrument
so delicate yet so harsh
when you stroke the strings,
it belts out a beautiful note
or when you strike the strings,
a loud sound leaves the sound hole

That brief second when a solo comes together…
it’s the best feeling in the world
or perhaps when the last note rings out
and a flood of relief rushes over you
or maybe the
Relaxation
of a well written solo

The speed of some ensemble music
The strength and clarity of the bass line
The quick last note that gets cut off

The conductor bows
The players bow
Everyone walks off the stage
and…
that’s it.

Gorzycki Middle School

7

Leap

Why spend your life dancing in the footsteps
Why hide in the shadow
Don’t understep
When you can shine in the spotlight

When I dance I fly around the world spinning
While i’m leaping over houses over buildings
through the air I can fly fast and ruthless
And I can fly steady and slow
Flying makes me happy
When I fly the Radio sings for me
flying its my key to life
I will never stop flying

Gorzycki Middle School

7

Love This Love

They make me whole
They make me realize my
own worth
And not once have they
loved anything but all of
me

Identity is strange
But I’ve loved finding
mine with you
Beautiful and intelligent
No label could ever veer

He, She, They,
What’s the difference?

I only see them for them
And I love this love

Early College High School

11

Aquarium dreams

Aquatic life glides across a canvas screen
and I enjoy the false magic,
because the advertisers hugging children with
plastic arms, always guarantee
a future enthrallment.

But I want to go beyond the glass that makes
Aquariums two dimensional projections in classrooms,
to finally slice the restless
waves, burying identical suburbs
under castles of sand.

I will find the white whale that protects
my saltwater heart.
Soon, the depths will procure
a gleaming token of independence.

For now I settle, with the cheap
string of pearls pressing
against my neck.

James Bowie High School

12

Walls

Walls
Walls that have seen me grow up.
A small girl who ran and played.
Every sleepover, play date, and mess that was made.
Seen every fight and every night that I cried.
It’s seen toys and decorations go,
and said goodbye to friends that I used to know.
Seen hundreds of movies and read many a book.
watched me eat meals my mom would cook.
Seen my changes in style and clothes.
Watched me dance and put on shows.
Seen dusting, vacuuming, and complaining galore.
Seen mountains of clothes bury the floor.

And in all these years the walls have filled.
Become wrapped like a present in posters, calendars and poster boards.
Now the time has come to unwrap the silent watcher.
The four walls that surrounded me.
Almost like stripping a museum of its history,
the posters and paper come down.

I look at the blank walls and only now I realize,
that they’ve been looking back at me all along.

Stony Point High School

10