Category: 2022-23 Submissions

Where the birds fly south for the winter,
Where the stones and paths erode,
Where the sun meets the peak of the mountains,
That’s where you’ll find That Old Road.

Tucked away within the winding fields,
Moving along with the river’s flow,
A long path stretches for an endless time,
That’s the road I’ve come to know.

It lies hidden within the rocky mountains,
Its life is written with grooves and cracks,
Its paint faded and rubbed off with the test of time,
Only a small sign marks the end of the track.
The sign reads: “You are home,” in weathered paint.
A sentiment to the weary traveler
Who has blindly followed all this way.
Then the road will end and so will your journey,
There at the edge is where you will stay.

So perhaps it is best to avoid the path,
Unless you truly wish to know.
Often the journey is not as it seems
Following That Old Road.

Basking in the sun on the porch where I lay
My owners are gone so I am left at home
The still-shaky air makes me feel alone
The sun disappears over the mountain marking a new day
Just being a dog I don’t have a lot to say
To fill my time I chew on a bone
The once-kept yard now overgrown
Day’s turn into months, do I stay?

I think my owners are gone for good
Does this mean I was not enough for thee
I hope I have misunderstood
Why did they abandon me?

Out of all the things we could have done, laying there in the sun.
Out of all the lies we told ourselves, this shouldn’t have been one.
We could have laughed and cried and never died, whilst laying in the sun.
I loved you, I loved you, I loved you, it’s true.
While I am not with you I do not know what to do.

Out of all the things I could have done, that was way too far.
I felt cold and dead, watching you crash and burn in that car.
I know you never really felt the same.
I wish you could know that I take all the blame.

Out of all the things I never did, I wish I had told you.
“The brakes don’t work, stay with me,
darling I love you”.

I slither I slide,
Basking in the sun, I’m warm and dry.
Sleeping in the sun, I shed my skin,
My skin is soft.
My scales are like stars,
They are like shining shards.
Somethings loud, it’s a mouse.
I’m as quiet as a crocodile,
I used my lifestyle.
I swallow that mouse,
Now I’m delighted.
As I enjoy my meal,
I shake to a sudden feel.
It is the trotting of the cattle.
The cattle were like declaring battle.
I knew I had to rattle.
They knew I had my venom,
I knew they were going to volt,
And it resulted in no fail.

Ornament on a Tree, watching all 3, opening gifts, as the day cycle rifts. as the day goes on, the moon turns on, when night is here, there is nothing left to hear.

White covers every surface,
blanket tucking me in,
cold and comforting safe and warm.
Nothing disturbs my peace,
until.. my squirrel resident.
Trees support them, they support us,
He curls in tight,
and keeps me warm,
in bed he rests, goodnight friend.
All is grey white,
the air is frozen,
A dark winter is coming soon.
when branches turn barren ,
it`s hard to remember,
that our forest shall bloom again.

This poem is about a football that is being th

Ro

Wn
After i th
Ro n

W the football it hit a guy in his dome

And when he gets back up from a fall his world seems to s i

P
And then after a few minutes he can see clearly again.

loving someone is a mind game
either you lose or lose
winning is no option
that’s why pets exist

I Have a rose, beauty filled with every petal
Built with a strong stem, with proper posture as to say
“Look at me!”
Covered with the most vibrant colors that would
Fill others with jealousy
I have a rose, with thorns as sharp as nails.
They were acute little daggers, and if I were not careful
Blood will be drawn and the sharks
I have a rose, filled with care and performance to stand out above the crowd, like a shining star that burns bright all alone in the night sky.
It makes me feel warm, safe, and gives me purpose
It fills my sense of fulfillment, as it needs constant attention everyday,
And in return it blooms its beautiful bright colors for me
I had a rose, it was beautiful from the root to the flowers on its head.
I would take hours out of my day just to stare at its beauty, and many more to give it the affection it craved.
It was silly of me to see that this wouldn’t last forever
For nothing is eternal and no power in this universe can make something last forever.

The patter of raindrops on my window pane catches my attention
I longingly look outside as the slight drizzle calls to me
Suddenly I hear a THUD
the house goes dark
but the dim gray light from outside still peeked through my window.