your vision, your voice
2017-18 submissions
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
The place on earth
Is somewhere close by.
Now, you may sit and wonder
“Where is this place, Sky?”
It’s a good thing you asked.
Let me tell you all I know.
It’s the best place on earth.
It’s my favorite place to go.
What’s that sound I hear?
It’s the donkeys out there
Going hee haw hee haw
Jumping around like they don’t care.
I see milk and Oreos.
No, that’s just the cow.
Their names are Ana and Kristoff.
Isn’t that cool?! Wow!
Baa Baa white sheep
They’re so fluffy and cute.
I love them a lot
In their black and white suit.
Holy piggy!
That’s Charlotte the pig.
She eat everything in the world
That’s why she’s so big.
Sparkle the horse
Is so pretty and sweet.
She has a baby in her tummy
And she stomps her mini feet.
One, two, six
Wait there are eight and now ten
I keep counting Corgis
All the way to the end.
Birds, cats, and guinea pigs
There are so many animals to see.
This magical place is my Mema’s.
It’s the best place to be.
baldwin elementary
3
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
I wish I could recite to you,
all that I know of Earth.
Although, I have kept a respectable distance
from her, for billions of years,
I have learned everything
there is to know.
I envy her-
everchanging green, blue, gold.
Rolling cascades of milky
vapor glide across an invisible
orb— her halo.
I am only a descendent,
of her being,
the leftovers.
This is the reason
I was left,
half encased
in an unbearable
blackness.
Insufficiently caressed,
gilded arms pay no matter to
the darkest of me.
My only will:
her ocean.
James Bowie High School
12
You might think
Light fights off the shadows
But it only conceals them
It might appear
That fire kills and destroys
But it gives warmth
You might fear
A place that isn’t heaven
But it is just a place
For people too hurt to love
You might assume
Your actions speak louder than words
But your words could change a world
You might wish
That everything is fine
While your world crumbles around you
But you have to love what is with you
Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
6
They always say
Look for the silver lining
And so we search
But it isn’t so simple
As they say
Don’t be negative
They tell us
So we look for happier things
But it isn’t so simple
As they say
Don’t judge by looks
They insist
So we close our eyes
And let our heart guide us
But it isn’t so simple
As they say
Follow your heart they whisper
So we try to take chances
And chase our dreams
But it isn’t so simple
As they say
Follow our advice
They scold
So we try
To find the silver lining
To stay positive
To look at what’s inside
And to chase our daydreaming hearts
But it isn’t so simple
As they say
Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
6
Can love shed light
In your darkest corners?
Can hope bring joy
To eyes haunted with death?
Can silence find the words
You don’t dare speak?
Can a scream
Inspire the world?
Can a floating lily
Hold up the world?
Can a moth find the courage
To resist the flame?
Can a secret question
Find an Answer?
Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
6