Category: 2023-2024 Submissions

I am from the cold, snowy winters.
From feeling safe alone at night.
I am from my beloved baby kitty,
And from visiting my great-grandparents from time to time.
I am from the short summers and long winters.
From the orange trees that fall from the trees.
I am from a tall, slim, Baby Blue duplex home, then to moving a lot.
From the loud, yet short car rides.
I am from the pastel gummies to the picky eating.
From so much excitement, it’s quite loud yet outgoing.
I am from the big basements and no attic.
From nearby destinations.
I am from a place I can call home.

I can never be the one for anyone
I can never find the one
What is the one?
The one that loves you unconditionally
The one that sacrifices everything for you
The one that would fight for you
Kill for you
Do anything to keep you protected
Do those exist out there?
Will they ever exist out there?
Do they only exist in my imagination
My imagination filled with unicorns and butterflies
All lies
Everyone tells me love is pain
Love hurts again and again
Love is hard to explain
But it’s also hard to explain
Hard to obtain
It’s hard to maintain
It’s hard to contain
Yet I still want to be missed
Knowing he does not exist

That rude little thing stares at me
‘He probably wants to poke my knee
Not going to happen, not today
Not tomorrow or in any way

That green face with his little knives
So its time
To get my revenge
On those little green men

First, I go to bed
Then he will be dead
No, I Won’t he screams
I will stay alive all nice and green

Oh yes you will be dead
Oh no I won’t Be dead
Cause you can’t kill me
Because of my Barrier of poky things

Yes I can
I have killed so many houseplants
So time for you too
And there he goes which makes me a little blue

Pizza is for me
I ain’t three, I slap my knee
Pizza is for me

My mom is not what other moms are like,
She fights for anything
She’s like a mean mutt coming to fight
She is a sweet butterfly
Then, when you’re on her bad side she’s the scariest guy
If you lie

My dad is rad
He’s a cool lad
Laugh! Laugh!
Why not laugh?
It might be the last half

My dog is a frog
Bounce bounce around the house
Dog balls here, dog balls there
Toys are everywhere.

I am from the sheets,
scattered through my soft warm bed.
I am from the most important meal,
changing every single day.
I am from a brush and pencil,
taking time out of art class.
I am from the black screen of my profile,
saying see you later.
I am from a walk through destructive halls,
filled with monsters.
Bumping and pushing and tripping and shoving,
Screaming and yelling and whispering and shouting.

Green long leaves flowing in the wind,
Curving over me,
Protecting me,
Shading me from the sun,
My hide away,
My climb away,
The sweet smell of nature,
My safe place,
This is my home.

I step outside, away from hectic days.
I step outside to the misty haze.
I walk around as smells fill the air.
I smell lavender and rose.
I see a thousand fireflies painting the sky.
I hear the buzz of bees and crickets chirping.
I feel calm, peaceful, happy.
I sit on the dew-filled grass.
I watch the little blue birds fly across my eyes.
I walk around on the moist dirt.
I see the white archway filled with moss.
I see a rainbow of flowers.
I feel the wind pass by.
I see the squirrels feasting on acorns.
I see the sky turn from blue to a brilliant gold.
I hear the raindrops fall.
I feel the heavenly water hitting my head.
I am home.
I’ve traveled the world
but never have I seen a place this beautiful.
Even as the years pass, even as the seasons change
I will never forget,
Nature’s Garden.

I am from a messy crate on our counter
I am from baby bites that I still ate when I was two
I am from a white and blue house
I am from warm white brick
I am from a big autumn tree that I always pass by
I am from orange and yellow leaves that fall slowly on the ground
I am from a playroom full of toys
I am from the Pardue’s and Glass’s
I am from an Oklahoma town but yet a city
I am from a God full of power
I am from warm pasta and pizza
I am from the old grounds of Wisconsin
I am from long car rides and road trips
I am from a place that holds wonder and happiness in Disney World
I am from siblings who fight non-stop
I am from a life of Goldens
I am from a red-and-white team
I am from a dark muddy soccer field
I am from everything I became
I am from my parents hugs and kisses
I am from warm summer days
But where are you from?

I’m from a single mom,
Crying when I had to leave her.
I am from a nice house,
which felt like a sad home
that ended up into a broken home.
I’m from something special,
I’m from mom to dad,
Never knowing where to go.
I’m from Never Getting a break,
Always questioning: ‘’Will I be at Mom’s, or will I be at Dad’s’’.
Alway will be going house to house.