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by Jacob Adkins

Having someone to lean on isn’t always bad
some things you just cannot do alone
some will even push you to tears,
but when someone is beside you they can support you.
and with the courage of two, almost anything is possible.

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by Ayanna McClendon

My mom doesn’t like the idea of tattoos.
She thinks they’re ugly and unprofessional.
I think they’re cool.
Something has to be special for me
to leave
it on my body
for the rest
of
my
life.

I would never get something stupid
like a garbage can
or a naked baby cupid.
I got something meaningful, my name.
And it will stay
on my body
for the rest
of
my
life.

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by Ayanna McClendon

Spring, Summer, and Fall are the worst seasons of all.
In the Spring, my nose sniffles and tears fall
out of my eyes.
In the Summer, there are bugs like Mosquitos and Bees
that leave bites on my legs and knees.
In the Fall, there’s far too much work,
because when raking leaves, I must get in the dirt.
Winter is my favorite season, because it’s the best.
During winter, I can stay bundled up in my own little nest.

In the Spring, things come to life.
In the Fall, there are bonfires and smores.
In the Summer, there are longer nights.
But, I still like winter more.

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By Chelsea Eckhardt

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By: Richard Robison

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Walking Amongst Stingrays                    

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Walking Amongst Stingrays                    

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by Annie Brueggen

Stingrays
Wander through the water
Wending their ways over white sands to greet us.
Waves are awash on the walls of our ship
as we drop anchor.
Barefooted, I slip silently into the sultry hip-deep sea.
Sweeping along, stingrays gently stroke my still ankles
like cats seeking attention.
I slowly walk through the sun-warmed water.
What a divine day!

At Stingray City,
kneeling on the white-sand floor in the sparkling water,
I cradle a large female stingray in my embrace,
keeping her head below the surface,
caressing the underside of her wings.
She and I shift with the currents,
a dance of sorts.
She quietly rests in my arms,
turning up her snout for a kiss--
says my instructor.
Creature to Creature, this is
A perfect picture of Eden.
What a divine day!

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By Christian Moree

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Never give in to the dying of the light.

For we know that there will never be an end.

We will walk the path, for our path never gives up without a fight.

Never give in to the dying of the light.

We can see that those lost from view may never see the sight.

For you see that one day the light may bend and blend.

Never give in to the dying of the light.

For we know that there will never be an end.

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By: Jenna Bruce

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By: Chelsea Eckhardt

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By: Ellie Lane

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by Ayanna McClendon

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1920's Crime New York
by Richard Robison

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by Christian Moree
What if magic was real?

I mean, like the kind we always read and hear about.

With a spark that can rise from the cinders and ash.

A fire that consumes, runs rampant, and kindles.

The rush of water that surrounds marks the beginnings of life,

but fragile and quick does its icy grasp spread once more.

The gift of breath, so easily drifts away with the sands.

Howling or whispering, the wind calls us to take flight.

With soft feet upon solid ground, the movement is slow.

Not without fault, a swift shift becomes a blighted Earth.

What if magic was real?

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by Semira Davis
True Friends

Like you for you,

Let you borrow,

their things forever.

Buy you food,

when you’re hungry.

Stay all night all the time,

like they're family.

Have your back,

no matter what.

Give you advice,

when you need it.

Give you a shoulder,

to cry on.

Lift you up,

when you are down.

Make you laugh,

non-stop.

Love you,

unconditionally.

True friends are forever,

the bond never leaves.

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by Ellie Lane

Approximately 197 million miles away

Heart wrenching distance

Confidently insecure try and hide a smiles delay

Today the sun missed its arrival

Obstinately unsure whether the dark and the rain

Empower my internal rival

Exactly so close we share the same breath

My head and the screws spin in cycles

Lately when I look in the mirror a stranger is left

Staring back at me tomorrow night recycling

The moon of today is seen by me

When I’m so close and so far away with one step

What distance will it take

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By: Richard Ellie Chelsea Blake

Because of societies oppression,

I have crippling depression.

I just want to die,

Because of the bullying all I do is cry--

Why?

I have this weird obsession,

I’ve always wanted to fly,

I left my AA session,

Then I got home and got high.

I don’t think I learned my lesson,

My whole life is a lie.

Darkness

My days are filled with sadness,

Never happiness.

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by Semira Davis

Family Pictures

Oh my,

They take forever

“Scoot together”

“Get closer”

“Move your head”

“Fix your hair”

Finally, the pictures are taken

Everyone gathers to take a look

But of course, someone

Doesn’t like it, so

We try again,

“1, 2, 3 Say Cheese”

Snap! Flash!

The photo is taken

Wait, I wasn’t ready,

Your younger sibling yells

Now, everyone is irritated

But mom doesn’t care,

She wants the pictures perfect

Get back how you were,

We’re taking them again

So everyone fake smiles,

The pictures are finished

At least they look nice.

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by Maria Thomason
In winter we play in the snow.
Feeling the wind blow.
The cold chills our hands.
Wishing we were in the warm sand.
Running through our fingers in the warm sun's glow.

We run up the hill and back down we go.
Racing fast and not slow.
Until into a wall of snow we slammed.
In winter.

It starts to snow.
We decide to go.
We drive home listening to our favorite bands.
We start to warm our hands.
Sitting by the warm fires glow.
In winter.

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by JD Sills
Back in the day there were Cowboys and Indians.

They played around, just as you and I do.

They had some fun and they made war.

Then they went home and thought about it.

They came out the next day, fierce as a fire,

Until a new one-sided war soon began.

The cowboys started winning all the battles

The Indians were beaten, mocked, trampled,

Forgotten.

Now today when we play Cowboys and Indians,

Or cops and robbers,

We always want to be the cowboy or the cop.

We would never want to be the robber.

But what about the Indian?

Is he a robber?

No.

But we have robbed him.

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by Makenzi Bacon
Candy is the sweetest,

Of them all

Sour, sweet, gone!

Mouthwatering goodness

Fruity, or chocolate?

Choice is yours!

It saves lives

Heals broken hearts

Candy breaks barriers

It has no boundaries

Candy is your friend, never enemy

It will pave the path

And pay your way

But actually,

Candy will do none of this,

But it will indeed,

Satisfy a sweet tooth!

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Chelsea Eckhardt

The cloudy night sky covered the ground in snow.

While you filled my head with sunshine.

You wouldn’t be here for long that I know,

But with that smile I couldn’t say no.

The first words we spoke I didn’t then know,

Would run through my head for a lifetime line after line.

When we first met, you kissed me on the head and I didn’t then know,

That memory would run through my mind for a lifetime and now you are not mine

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by JD Sills
Frightened I was then

A Rotten Corpse soon appeared

Frightened I still am

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by Makenzi Bacon
Stuck between Spring and Fall.

We splash,

And kick in the pool.

We slurp

Fresh cold lemonade.

Bike rides

Around the town.

No school. we’re cool.

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by Jacob Adkins
When life disappoints, I watch anime.

It creates connections deep in the soul.

I start to push everything else away.

Anime gets to my heart’s very core.

I watch Oreimo and Inuyasha,

shows with extreme romance and intense fights.

Some shows have girls with names like Tsukasa.

Some anime cause me to have long nights.

Unlike some shows made in America,

the feeling from watching is like a high.

I watch anime like Hetalia,

And some others with characters named light.

They keep me wondering what will happen

They keep me singing to their openings.

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by Chelsea Eckhardt
On the beach shore, there stands a palm tree.
The tree so big you could obviously, see
Its green leafy tops reaching towards the sky.
The palm leaves blowing in the wind as you pass by.
The waves washing on shore from the sea
Staring at the water happily
You watch fish swim playfully.
Ah the birds above fly
On the beach shore
Watch the bee
Fly to the flowery tree
The tree that is short not reaching the sky.
My skin kissed by the sun, and salty water now dry
I go home now. Not at the sea
On the beach shore.

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by Maria Thomason

Summer is near.

The sun is shining.

Skies are clear.

Bee’s wings are whining.

Pools are gleaming.

Fishing poles need their lining.

Light is beaming.

Streams are flowing.

Trees are leaning.

Wind is blowing.

Nights are longer.

Flowers stop growing.

Wind is stronger.

Leaves are blowing here.

I wish summer would stay a little longer.

Crunch of leaves is all you hear.

Fall is near.

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by Maria Thomason

After the wind blows

After the sky glows

As the moon shines

And the wolf howls

When it’s dark and quiet

The monsters come out.

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by Blake Duff
My phone's alarm blasts.

It's time to get up.

Damn the me of the past.

I know I should, but—

My future self will regret it!

If I don't get up!

I'd do it without a fit,

But, but, but,

My sheets have gone leaden,

Willpower armageddon.

So for a little more time

Let me cease with these rhymes,

And sleep.

And sleep.

And sleep.

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by Blake Duff
"A rattler lives behind the shed—

If you go near 'im you'll wind up dead!

He's a mean, soulless, sonofabitch,

With venom enough to put us all in a ditch!"

But snakes are so cool, bro, and I wanna see,

Just how bad this little critter could be,

And so I get closer, and closer, to this little beasty.

When the rattler sees me, and flashes,

Curved hellspikes in my knee—then gashes,

That leak a little sickly

Yellow and red,

Which pretty damn quickly

Murdurs me dead.

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Jane's Love
by Chelsea Eckhardt

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By: Ellie Lane

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By Chelsea Eckhardt

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By Chelsea Eckhardt

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by Bryant Wire
A Slap.

Back-handed him

He disrespected me

So I had to show he was wrong

He learned.

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by Jenna Bruce
Why love those who can’t be loved?

Their hearts kept cold and rough.

With warmth and care you call them your beloved.

Why love those who can’t be loved?

Maybe their tender heart just needs to be ungloved?

You huff and puff, but in the end your own heart turns tough.

Why love those who can’t be loved?

Their hearts kept cold and rough.

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We Got Problems
by Blake Duff

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by Christian Moree
The march of freedom.

Those undivided by love.

Standing hand in hand.

Sword and shield in hand.

Protecting the ones, you love.

For now, Forever.

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By: Ellie Lane

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By: Ellie Lane

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Cycle of Life
by Ellie Lane

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The Cursed Epiphany
by Semira Davis

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by Bryant Wire
My Aunt used to say,
Slow and steady wins the race.
She died in a fire.

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by Jenna Bruce
I have died today;

In walls of plaster and grey.

“Sleep” says the still soul.

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by JD Sills

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by Jacob Adkins

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by Jenna Bruce
I see my life crumbling before my eyes.

My time is spent holding onto the highs.

The lies and cries align to form my guise.

What hides behind the mask is my surprise.

I need my lies to hide from those who harm.

To keep away the scorn that comes with “norm”.

Their paltry taunts grow on a prison farm.

But it’s still hard to see beyond the storm.

I try to say I’m just the same as they,

But they see the way I walk, talk, and pray.

“Shades of grey cannot be allowed” they say.

So, I cover my grey to gain their praise.

But soon they realize I cannot be tamed.

Skunk stench is easy, but no skin was gained.

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by Bryant Wire

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Forbidden Love
by Makenzi Bacon

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by Ellie Lane
On the 16th of June in the street

Called main in the heat of the noon heated feet

Sustain

Cool came clashing came pouring

Exactly storming

I had found that sea moons

Look back adoring