Category: 2023-2024 Submissions

They Call Us…

They call us crazy
They call us insane
They call us ridiculous
They call us amazing
They call us beautiful
They call us too much

They call us so many, many things but,
We will make our own names and we will stand up for
our OWN selves because this is a world where we are
STRONG. AMAZING. FREE!

A Brown Sea That I See

I look out through the pink clouds of the sunset
But then I look farther into the sea where I see something my eyes
Don’t want to see… a very sad horrible future where the ocean is a dump yard as brown as wood all creatures are sad

And with much pondering I think we must do something
And that thing must make difference and save us from such a
Horrible future.

The Grandfather Oak

Here I lay under the grandfather oak
That towers over us all
He is are king when we are in his mits
For he is a powerful leader
He strong as a boar as big as a giant
He protects all and makes sure no one suffers
He like a grandpa to all the animals
I lay under him with much joy and pride
He is the grandfather oak.

Up Atop The Willow Tree

From atop the willow tree I see, I see…
A squirrel dancing with a hedgehog
A little chipmunk atop a big ol bear
A fox and a weasel doing there thing

All dancing around my willow tree
What a ceremony oh gee
From atop my willow tree
I see, I see

Friendship

I used to wonder all the time, but now I know the truth.
I used to hide away from it all, yet now I stand my ground.
I used to be so unaware, but now I wonder how I fell for it.
I used to think they were inviting and kind, yet their masks have now fallen off.
I used to be soft and harmless, but now I have scars that show I’m stronger than ever.

Where I’m from

I am from the lamp on my desk
from the old leather book and the new checkered rug
I am from the white brick house and the green backyard
I’m from the magnolia tree in the back corner
its white flowers opening like hands to greet me
I am from the mahogany coffee table and the family portrait
I am from Sean and Shannon
from courage and faith
I am from church on Sunday
and game nights on Friday
I’m from buttery brown rolls
and juicy oranges
I am from the green treed backyard
and the sun-baked sidewalk
I am from Austin, Texas
I am from home

Dreams

If one were only to look within one’s self
One would see a spark
If only one were to look through the dark
One would see such spark

The spark remains outside of one’s reach
An evasive mosquito
An annoying fly
Stuck in one’s mind

If one were only to look within one’s self
One would see a ember
If only one were to look through the dark
One would see such ember

Once ignited
Never to be extinguished
A burning desire
Never to be quenched

If one were only to look within one’s self
One would see a blaze
If only one were to look through the dark
One would see such blaze

Through the spark and the ember and the blaze
The light will guide you
Through the tunnel and the dark
The light will guide you
To a place where dreams roam
Enternal and free

If one were only to look within one’s self
One would see a dream
If only one were to look through the dark
One would achieve said dream

Beauty of a cat

The little white whiskers
flying in air–
footsteps like whispers
Looking so fair,

Fur like clouds on a hot summer day-
they pounce like a lion
looking for pray.

My cat is special so are you,
Please pay attention yes it’s true-
I love me- to the moon and back,
Love yourself, cut some slack.

Christmas time

1. When you wake up
On Christmas morning you
feel a rush of
joy runs through your body
as you walk into
Your living room and
See all of the presents
Lined up in a row
But just one catches
Your eye with a glistening glow
Could it be
Could it really be
I have only ever
Dreamed of this

But then you realize
Something
Now you wish
This was a dream
Please be a dream
Please be a dream
But it was not
The tag
It said
From Santa
To Ella
I felt like my heart
Sunk to my stomach
Then all of a sudden
My mom yelled
Time to open
PRESENTS!
Then it went black.