Wilted Love

Long ago it bloomed,
the colors of the sun.
No longer holding the glory
of what it once was.

Given to me
by my very first love,
as a sunflower in a vase
and his handwritten card.

As time moved on
so did we.
Our love wilted,
just as his gift for me.

The dried up flower
is still in its vase,
and the handwritten note
is in a secret place.


- Katie Klabbatz

Why?

Why must people judge?
I understand the judging of a contest,
the judging of a meet, or
the judging of a fair game.
But why must people judge
the way a person is?
You don't even know them!
Just like you cant judge
a book by its cover,
you dont know a person
until you meet them.
So, why? Why must people judge?


-Marissa Vogelpohl

Music

Music is like my shadow
It is like my best friend
That I could never give up

Like real friends
Always it is going to be next to me
Whenever I feel lonely
Whenever I feel angry
Whenever I feel nothing

If I get annoyed at it
I could change the style of it
How easy to make friend with music?


-Brian Keum

Carry On

Carry on, through pain and sadness
when you feel pulled down with the weight.
Carry on, through triumph and joy
when the thrill threatens to take you from your path.
Carry on through failure
Carry on through rejection
those don't really matter.
Carry on by the help of friends
Carry on by helping friends
Carry on when everything around you
tells you to just give up.
Carry on when you feel like you
can no longer carry on.
And when you feel like you've arrived
at where you're supposed to be.
Don't stop.
Carry on, always, one step
further.


-Rebekah Knapke

Transform

You would sit on the sidelines
You were the silent wallflower
You were young and naive
you were nothing but a lump of potential talent

Then they adopted you
They taught you
laughed with you
Learned with you
Worked an played with you

The thrill of performance molded you
the confidence grew in you
the talent released from you
you emerged from your crumpled cocoon
slowly spread your wings,
and flew across the stage


- Rebekah Knapke

To Grandma Pleasant

When I was young and innocent
and didn't understand why my cousin with cerebral palsy
would throw her toys at me when we played
You taught me patience and how to share.
You told me, "It's her way of playing"

Growing up, occasionally visiting you time to time
in the rugged and beautiful city of Philadelphia
I walk into your house
spelling the fresh, crisp fried chicken
that you never cease to amaze me with.

Every moment I try to soak in,
I never want to forget a moment with you
Because I love your light-blue eyes and warm big smile
your heart melts mine
with your unconditional love.


-Sarah Hernandez

Orange

Orange is my hero
It declares its presence in the crayola box
The intensity dominates less pleasing pigments

Orange stands up for what it believes
It demands attention amidst the dull landscape
Excitement flows in its footsteps

Orange gets into trouble
It can be ornery
Sometimes it speaks a bit too loudly

Orange told me he enjoys being devious
It breaks every rule before it abides
He told me he is wanted in twelve states

Orange lives next door to yellow and red
It makes peace between its neighbors, tranquility and anger
Orange is a squatter in my heart


- Scott Daily

I ___ Poetry

When it's real
When it's tangible
When the words are woven on the page
not written

When it's painted
And displayed
Using images I can see
and not just written

When it's music
When it's sung
With clear tones ringing in my ears
not read

When it's unspoken
Yet provoking
Visceral and unanalyzed
not just read aloud

Then, and only then do I love poetry


- Rebekah Knapke

Itch

I feel an itch
an urge. a need.

create. express.

I must write or draw
or dance or sing.
do SOMETHING.

I glance at the clock.
No time. No time!?

I sigh. torn.
study. sleep work.
plodding on. LIFE
or LIFE?

My LIFE wins over my LIFE.


I carefully place my LIFE into
a plain cardboard box.
Saving it.
For later of course.

But still I feel the itch.
the tug. the pull.

CREATE! EXPRESS!

until.
I have to unleash the contents of
that plain cardboard box.
or the great swelling inside me
will make me
e x p l o d e.


-Rebekah Knapke