# data[].attributes.body
I reach out to hold you
But I can't
Though I can easily touch you
My hands
fade away every time
I gave you a piece of my heart
and you walked away with it
Though I must admit
that I let you
I let you knock me down
I let you tell me what I wanted
I let you steal my crown
I let you make me feel unwanted
I let myself fall under your shove
I didn't see it because I was blinded
By our...'love'
And I still reach out to hold you
But I know I can't
Though I could easily touch you
My hands
FADE AWAY
Every time

# data[].attributes.body
Almost every night I swear
I lie awake thinking
Stuff like
What am I going to do with my hair tomorrow
Should I put it up
No I shouldn't
Well...
Whatever, I'll figure it out in the morning
So tomorrow I'm gonna
Wear my *NSYNC t-shirt
Acid wash skinny jeans...
And Vans
OK cool got it
Oh goodness what if he doesn't like
My t-shirt???
Pssh... I don't care what other people think of me
*rolls over
Darn it, yes I do
I'll wear my Jurassic Park t-shirt
Instead
Which reminds me
I wonder if Elizabeth wants
to go see Jurassic World II
With me next Saturday
Probably not
But it couldn't hurt to ask
I guess
Cheesus rice!
I forgot to do my Spanish homework
Eh, it's only Act 6
I can do it in 5 minutes before I eat breakfast tomorrow
What am I going to have for breakfast anyway?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Or
Lucky Charms?
Maybe it's just me
But Lucky Charms are
Getting old
Ooh!! But now there's a new unicorn charm!
Well it doesn't make it taste different
I'll just have Cinnamon Toast Crunch
I need to
Go to sleep
*rolls over
...
...
OMG!
He looked so hot today
He looks like a god in red
*squeals
Alysha you were raised better than this
*wonders what he's gonna wear tomorrow
Ah, jeez
I'm so annoying

# data[].attributes.body
You scare me
I mindfully chase after you everyday
It scares me because
You are too perfect
No boy
In eighth grade
In Plum Point Middle
Is as great as you
You are so genuinely
Nice
So smart, but not too smart
I love your skin
And your eyes
And your hair
And your beautiful smile
You scare me because
We always look up at the same time
You screw me up
When I'm trying to focus
You give me the giggles
You are the reason I do my hair!
You always have a smile on your face
Even when it's obvious you're struggling
Oh goodness!
You dress so nice
And you smell so good when you float by me
Like a Gucci store
In a pine forest
The way you look at me in seventh period
Oh goodness
It scares me
But I love it

# data[].attributes.body
It's weird to feel
Nothing at all
I'm in this bubble
I don't even know
What's going on?
Why aren't you guys in here with me?
I don't understand
I'm in this bubble
I always thought it would be nice
To be the chosen one
Am I different?
This isn't right to me
I'm in this bubble
Why aren't you?
Can you guys hear
Me?
Help
I feel like
I'm whispering to myself
Nobody is coming to save
Me?
Nobody wonders where I am?
It's weird to feel nothing
I'm in this bubble
But at least
I'm dreaming
I'll wake any second
My whole life
Will be back

Nothing's happening
I'm in this bubble
I guess this is
For reals

# data[].attributes.body
The speakers scream:
"Code red!
I repeat
Code red!
There was a lethal
Hydrogen sulfide breach!
Everyone has approximately
10 minutes to evacuate
The laboratory!
CODE RED
CODE RED
CODE RED"
I wonder
Why it can't be called
Code gray
Or white
Or brown
Some kind of neutral color
Since this is only a drill
I mean if there was a breach
They'd surely sound some sort of alarm
Don't you think?
Oh well
It is rather quiet
And it's
Getting
Harder
To
Breathe
I'll go take a
Take a walk
Out
Outside

Why am I on the floor?
Oh 💩

# data[].attributes.body
When I say goodbye
To you
It seems as if
There's nothing else I can do
To make you stay
With me
Or to make me
Stay with you
'See you next class'
Feels like getting put behind glass
When I see you
For the last time in a day
I feel as if I've been
Thrown away
But I know that is not so
Because the next
Day you make me feel like I'm on a rainbow
When weekends come
Do not even get
Me started
You give me a verbal kiss
So sweet
I float to my bus
Fainthearted.

# data[].attributes.body
It was Red Ribbon week

And I was thinking about those who passed

Because of drugs

I was thinking as I was

Painting my face red before school

How people actually thought

Drugs were cool

I guess it sounds cool

To say

‘We gonna git lit’

Not so much when your

On the news

‘Cause you lost it

I was thinking

About the young kids that passed

‘Cause they grew up too fast

And passed out

And I was thinking

About all the kids in my school

Who have done drugs

And got away with it

But I bet you those same kids

Are gonna rep the red

Next Tuesday
And smell of pot and hypocrisy
I was putting on my red tutu

Thinking about all the parents

That can never forgive themselves

That are depressed

That are counting graves

That feel as if they failed as parents

All because they

“Couldn’t protect their son or daughter”

But it was really because

Their son or daughter thought they were

Cool

I was putting shiny red bows in my hair

Thinking about how important

Red Ribbon Week really is

And what it teaches us

It is truly an example of what not to do

It is because people care and don’t wanna lose you

It is a cry for our generation to start anew

It is many things

But drugs ain’t cool

# data[].attributes.body
I am from back and forth
To dad
Then back to mom.
I am from making friends
And then leaving them
And starting over
Again.
Ashleigh Catlett knows
I am from
'Get smart or get strong'
But here is what you don't
I am from saying my grace
Letting Him know for what am I Grateful.
I am from fighting in the kitchen
Before mom gets home
I am from belts
But also from unconditional love
From my red hammock
Under the oak
Where many milestones took place
That I watched as it got torn down
By the landlord
I am from 'this will hurt me more than it will hurt you'
And I never believed it for a second.
I am from Christmases
When the best part
Was the family dance party.
I am from not touching anything in The store
From 'yes ma'am and yes sir'
From the four rules of the house
I am definitely
From forgetting to take the chicken Out
And mom's 10 minutes away
From getting smacked upside the Head when I give 'lip'
I am from
'Don't crack your knuckles, you'll get arthritis'
From no allowance unless I work
I'm from old school
But its quite refreshing
Seeing my peers
With their parentals
And I'm like
Am I the only one who knows how to iron a shirt?

# data[].attributes.body
I'm so sorry
Now I'm just wasting time,
Finding out a way you
Could maybe be mine

I tell myself every day
'I'm gonna do it'
He needs to know
But I always find an excuse
To tell you tomorrow

How to tell you?
Without being awkward?
Without making a fool of myself?
I'd ask you,
But that's a problem too

You are just so perfect
In your natural state
So how could I possibly ask
you out on a date?

I can't tell
You how much this hurts me
But I can't necessarily tell you
Anything

Most my remarks are to make you feel good
Or simply to make you laugh
I'm witty on the spot
And you say I'm real smart
But saying three easy words
Is like advanced math

How to tell you?
Without destroying our friendship?
Without making you subtly avoid me?
Without crying afterward?

I hope you can answer me
After this... whatever
But then again
I'll love you forever

# data[].attributes.body
I saw his smile
Just the other day
And that sweet smile
Took my breath away.

Suddenly his laughter
Filled the air
I turned to look
And acquired a stare!

Two eyes of blue
Were shining bright
Throughout the day
And into the night.

And when he moves,
There's a certain grace
That complements
His eyes and face.

Blond hair flows
And blue eyes dance;
Whenever I'm near him,
I'm lost in a trance,

Captivated by
His precious smile
With moments to cherish
All the while.

I can't explain
Or understand;
He's an orchestral symphony
Played by a band.

This is the way
It will always be,
Living in my mind-
A glass menagerie.

All because
The other day
His sweet smile
Took my breath away.