Category: 2020-21 Submissions

Suddenly
a happy world is gone
disappeared
evaporated
How could this have happened?
An arm
around a loved one
in comfort
but nothing can comfort me
Every life a world
and now one world
a world that I loved so much
Gone
Forever

To lie on the ground
and just
look
up
is a wonderful feeling
the endless world above us
is an amazing sight to see

These twinkling lights
are what gives light to our universe
at night
they are
the night’s light

The Earth, if my eyes deceive, was clean and clear until us humans came
We polluted, we destroyed and the Earth shed a tear and tried to blow us away
But we stayed here
As we kept on hurting her the Earth tried to cope, ice caps-melting, Covid-killing
But we stayed here
Nothing was working, we became to strong, so as we create a vaccine the Earth sang for help,
And as she sang, and as global warming got worse, nobody came
so we stayed here
Black death, chickenpox, yellow fever, all were ways to drive us out, but we didn’t notice
So we shall stay here

Fantasy
The word begets only ill formed shapes in my mind
Of the glint of sunlight on metal
Of crimson red,
And yet I can’t stop thinking of them.
Their taste draws me in like blood to a shark
And I can’t help but bite into the lure.

Stuff
Things
Such a broad term for such a specific thing
Stuff is the black cat that reminds you of Halloween sitting on your window
Stuff is the blue pen sitting at your desk stark against the brown wood
Stuff is the blood red nail polish in the bathroom
Stuff is the dried flowers hanging in your neighbor’s lawn
Stuff is the old tea bags in the mug that has long since lost its warmth
Stuff is the white pillow sitting on the white bed that hasn’t been slept in for years
Stuff is anything and everything
Stuff is something we all take for granted
Because
We always want more
Always think that we need more
We all give in to wanting until
There is no more stuff
Nothing that you own because you wanted too much
And threw away everything that you owned
You threw away everything that you are
And you have to find yourself again
To finally remember to stop wanting

Infatuation. Fascination.
Passion. It’s
Obsession.

Any way or form.
For that one person it
Sticks in our minds like
Gum on the bottom of a
Shoe.

However hard you try
They’ll always be
There. Waiting
For attention

Waiting
For you to circle back
Around to dwelling on that
powerful

Infatuation. Fascination.
Passion.

Obsession.

It’s the small Moments
that gradually build up
And when you look back
on them,
you realize
they made you who
you are.

You might not think of
it immediately.

It was that time with
friends at lunch
the bus ride
that test that everyone
talked about after.

It’s like they say
You don’t know
the value of a Moment
until it becomes a
Memory.

So many Moments
wasted, back then
But so many
lived out
to their fullest.

Do I regret it?
Not at all.
Because I know
this is me.
This is what has
Shaped me
Formed me
Taught me
Allowed me

Brought me
to who I am today.

I’d do every second
over again
if I could
not changing anything,
because I wouldn’t need to.

What a time we had
to experience all those

Moments
that became
Memories.

She was gone even
Before you thought
To leave.

Saving you both the
Pain of a
Goodbye.

That way the pain
will be virtually
Painless.

It doesn’t work that way
And you both know it.

A river of tears
Flows under
A layer of ice
Indifference.

We build up a wall
As an antibiotic for
the hurt.

It has to be this way.
It always has to end
At some point.

What other way.
It’s so hard to say

Goodbye.

A brief touch
A brush across the hand.
A pat on the shoulder,
Reassuring.

Both sides are nervous.
How far to go?

Never sure, but they
Know they want it.

Take my hand.
Why are you afraid?
It’s not that hard
It’s not that easy, either.

How far to go?
Never sure. So

Tentative.