Look up. Can you see the moon? white as snow? The sun, as yellow as a new crayon? A baby blue sky like an ocean? Look down! Cold in one spot, warm in others, the creek is full of amazing creatures Our nets, shaped like D’s scoop up mud puppies and crawdads The still water is a mirror, and tripping on sharp rocks, I scrape my knee, But I am sad only because my teacher calls, “Time to go!” John Rager, 12 Russellville, Kentucky
Poem
Fog
Every evening a tumbling, frothy white waterfall cascades over the mountains. Its thick, swirly, blanket settles among the trees, and oozes into the valley. It keeps coming; soft, white and misty. It reaches its tendrils around each tree. You can see it creeping, crawling like it is sneaking up on someone. As the sun sets, yellow rays shine through its top layer of mist. So bright are the sun’s last rays it drowns the mountain’s green Till all you can see is the very outline. The sky darkens. Slowly, the froth pools in the valley and rests its head. One by one the stars come out, shining crisp in the cold clear night. The fingers of mist wake early and start retreating back over the mountains to the sea. Slowly the world wakes up. The sun shines its first blossoming rays towards the sky. The soft blanket slips back over the hills, hoping not to be seen. Robin Sandell, 11 Portola Valley, California
Icarus Falling
I awake early in our small, candlelit prison a stone tower high above the sands of Crete. Father melts hot wax from his thick candle dripping it on my shoulders his gentle hands press something into place. Wings! Giant, feathery white wings unfolding from my bronze shoulders I stand in awe. Suddenly guards pound on our bolted wooden door breaking the rich silence I hear loud shouts of rage and sharp panic cuts me like a knife. A whispered warning a soft shove I stumble out of the tall window nothing to hold onto and I’m plummeting toward the ground and armed guards my heart pounds wildly I squeeze my eyes shut waiting I’m a heavy stone dropping into the deep death abyss. Then my wings snap up trapping the cold wind I glide softly through the blue sky I’m alive! The wind rushes past me tangling in my black locks and slapping my flushed face exhilaration locks away my thoughts of dark, suffocating towers and nightmare labyrinths. I look down the sea is blue a deep, glittering mass of rolling waves spread forever before me I skim the cool surface feeling the tingling spray breathing in the scent of salt and freedom. Behind me Father whoops loudly “Icarus, my boy! We’re free!” I break into happy laughter, and he smiles. We fly together father and son beating our wings to a lulling rhythm we claim the vast sky. I see the sun a blinding golden sphere hanging high above I can reach it! Up I soar higher and higher leaving Father below passing astonished seagulls the sun burns hotly and my face glistens with sweat I reach out to the bright light. Then I feel it the hard wax softens in the raging heat and trickles slowly but steadily scalding my bare skin I’m terrified. Now I remember Father’s urgent warning Don’t fly too close to the sun! It’s too late. Feathers fall around me drifting away suspended in midair I flap my arms desperately and I scream to my father the harsh sound of sharp chilling fear but all he can do is watch helplessly the seagulls don’t catch me in their beaks and I sink into the black, icy depths of the sea all that is left is haunting silence and floating white feathers. Leila Yaghmaei, 12 Aliso Viejo, California
Go Back to Asia
“Go back to Asia!” He says and sneers and snarls. He lacks imagination. He is so predictable. Sometimes he spreads his pain and says, “Go back to Egypt!” “Go back to Mexico!” “Go back to Africa!” He must be a travel agent Waiting to book a flight. Maybe he’s right. Maybe we should all go back And thank the Native Americans For their hospitality, For their generosity. But where would we go When our home is here? I was born here and raised here Just like you. My parents were born and bred here too Just like you. My grandparents’ souls left for the sky but were buried here Too. I’m staying right here. With you. Jason Fong, 11 Manhattan Beach, California
Slipping on Raindrops
It was a funny, sunny afternoon when Something hit my cheek A cloud of a loud boom Came from above Then dark splattered all over the park Like black paint hitting white paper I ran as fast as I could, slipping on raindrops Zinnia Schwartz, 10 Evanston, Illinois
Music
I finger the valves. They are cold and uninviting to the touch. I take a breath. My lips form an embouchure. I blow. At first there is noise, Much noise, Then the music starts. It flows through my veins, Coursing through my body. I play from the heart. I love it, No, Need it. Music is me, I am the music. I need it, I want it, I can’t get enough, I play until my heart swells And my body sways. I feel it in my bones, I feel it in my toes, I reach deep, And pull the music from me. It keeps coming, I play the notes. But they aren’t just notes. It’s a beautiful, swirling music. It’s a loud leaping leopard, And a quiet mouse, It’s for everyone, It’s for me. It fills my room, My valves are fluid. My fingers dance across them. Another melody, It sounds like a trundling tortoise, Marching home. It goes high, It goes low, My lips never slow. I breathe in, And out. In and out. The music ripples like a river, Creating smiling pools of pleasure in my heart. I can’t let it stop. I won’t let it stop. Music is me, I am the music. Leah Berger, 12 Shelburne, Vermont
Curiosity
I would spend those bored hours, Peering through the wire mesh screen, Waiting for something worthy of a smile. He zoomed, an invisible blur, Until he hovered at my window, His ruby throat aflame, And his wings a cloudy shimmer. His eyes waiting, Holding mine. It seemed for hours, As the hand ticked slowly, softly in the corner, We watched, wary, Until a small green streak, He disappeared. Sarah Wood, 12 Seattle, Washington
Sneeze!!!
Everyone was startled at the Loud BBBLLLAAAGGGHHHH sound. I had just sneezed Into my trombone! Instantly, most of the class turned And looked my direction. What awkward timing! We were all in the middle of playing a song. I felt kind of embarrassed. I knew that was one thing I wouldn’t do again. But I let out a chuckle, As the band class Paused for a moment. The moment passed. The band played on. Jonathan Hall, 12 Granger, Iowa
The Mighty Jump
This was it. I could see it in front of me. The stream was ending. I had to jump. The strong current was blinding. The mischievous drops of water were going against me. I picked up speed. Flapping my tail fin one hundred times a second. Propelling forward faster and faster. I jumped. Elegantly soaring through the air. Slipping right through a grizzly bear’s jaws. I could see the open sky above, and the rushing water crashing below. Then just like that, I gracefully slipped through the quiet and frigid waters. My adventure was over. Ella Rogers, 10 Lake Forest Park, Washington
I Cry
I feel tears welling up in my eyes I try to suppress them I don’t want to cry At least not here In front of people But I do I do cry I cry and I cry And I try to push it back But I’ve waited too long I think about it About the mess About my parents My childhood My home My safety And I cry even more The mess is big It overwhelms me It makes me shiver It makes me cry My mother didn’t love my father anymore I can’t take that knowledge I can’t believe it After twenty-three years Of loving You just stop I don’t understand her Confusion makes me cry I love my mother I love my father I don’t see Why they can’t love each other The unknown makes me cry I have to move Even though we just moved I have to pack my clothes My toys So I can leave my father All alone Change makes me cry I cry I cry because I am Sad and Confused and Annoyed I cry because of my Parents’ divorce I cry Isabella Ainsworth, 11 Davis, California
What Is Laughter?
Water Laughter is like a cool glass of water. Refreshing, enjoyable. A cool trickle going down your throat. When you laugh, you forget the pile of homework, waiting at school for you. You forget about the fact that your mom is in the hospital, and you’re not sure if she’s ever going to come out again. You forget about grades and projects and friends. Your mind goes blank like a blackboard… and you laugh. You laugh to forget, you laugh to enjoy, you laugh to feel free. And as the sweating glass of water empties, you are forced back into the real world… The world where you belong. Zoë Cassinelli, 12 San Rafael, California
Noire
A crow or raven against the black night. A cry from a lone child. A smooth dark rock thrown at you. A dot, sweet, warm, and black on your tongue. A musty smell, revolting at first, sweet afterwards, though too quick to catch. Scented like a black horse. At first sight, A child tattered, crying, and though silent makes the loudest sound. It is a whinny heard in the distance. It’s something or someone you love Who Dies. That’s Negro. Jonah O’Hara David, 10 Norman, Oklahoma
