Author: SamanthaP

I am like a fire
Burning bright
I illuminate wild eyes
Like an animal
Ready to strike
A glint of madness
In my flames
I am like the calm before the storm
Quite until I strike
I am the insanity of the flame
Consuming all I touch
Every thought
Every action
I am like the smoke of a fire
Dark and pungent
Killing those who stay
Slowly chocking the life away
As I burn the wood
All other thoughts leave me
All I know is fleeing my fire grasp
I am the embers of the fire
What’s leftover
I am all that’s left
After the insanity strikes
I am like the smell of a burnt out fire
The only thing that tells you
I was here
I’ve destroyed all else
I am a fire
I burn and destroy all in my path
Nothing can reach me
For none can touch me
I am eternal
eternal and alone

---

Bowie High School

9

Light defends against shadow

But it creates shadows as well

Light keeps the shadows at bay

But it also conceals them

Light gives you hope

But shadows inspire you

Light warms you

But shadows ensure

That you are never alone

Light wards away monsters

But shadows make them disappear

---

Ann Richards School for Young Woman Leaders

6

Up
High above
There is a place which many dream
And few know
It is graceful and elegant
Like the stars
From there you can touch
The gentle mist that surrounds
But doesn’t cloud
It frees and flows
Like a river
Down
A mountaintop

---

Bailey Middle School

7th

A mysterious place to be
Filled with wonders not to be uncovered
Its possibilities are limitless
Infinite

A magical place to hold your dreams
It never screams, never whispers any of your secrets
It keeps them safe and takes them to another place

No matter your age,
It lets your spirit run free
You are peace
You are love
Nothing can break you

---

Baldwin

4th

Light defends against shadow
But it creates shadows as well

Light keeps the shadows at bay
But it also conceals them

Light gives you hope
But shadows inspire you

Light warms you
But shadows ensure
That you are never alone

Light wards away monsters
But shadows make them disappear

Shadows may scare you
But light can show you far worse truths

---

Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders

6th

Clear waters and
white sands,
under a blanket of clouds.
Laughter that makes music,
drifting higher,
and higher,
up into the warm breeze.
Smiles on all our faces,
my eyes squinted as if to say,
HELP,
as my brother tries to escape
my grip.
It is the moments like this,
the memories,
that we keep in a photograph.
Each one has a story,
a memory
and each memory
holds emotions.
So many beautiful things
we keep in a photograph.
So many amazing things we keep
in our memories.
Clear waters and
white sands,
under a blanket of clouds.

---

Ann Richard School for Young Women Leaders

7th

The scene comes to life
From lead.
People watch as they see a snowflake falling down,
A snowman being built.
The joy on kids’ faces shining brighter that the snow beneath.
All this from only a pencil
Gliding effortlessly on a piece of paper.

---

Gorzycki

7

I watch this place,
as if I were watching Monet
in real time.
Mauve azaleas
flutter as the breeze swept
pollen from their pistils.
Bumble bees decorated
themselves with flaxen dust,
humming.
Take what they want,
disregarding
innocent blossoms.
Indulging until
once petite bodies,
become ponderous.
Stamen:
anther and filament,
violated.
Awkward and cumbersome,
their stripes disappear
into yellow daisies.
The way the pollen
moved the gentle wind-
released the dread
of thunder and lightning.

---

James Bowie High School

12