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Writers Showcase! I love encouraging students to write -- and to
publish -- I hope you enjoy these pieces! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Nature
Poem The sun teaches the way As the moon displays the shadows The stars remember the past While the sky shows us the future The sea hears of our troubles As the stone reminds us of our pain The night carries fear While the mountain glares for the light The dawn flutters in the horizon While the morning shows us the way ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Pray for
Pain Michelle
C. “‘Pray that you will suffer more and more and more.
Never get tired of suffering… that is all part of heaven… Perhaps without
them… you wouldn’t enjoy heaven so much.’” The pain The loss The fear The tears Enjoy suffering Make it through the rain And find the sun in heaven Live with pride Be proud for the negatives For they will soon become positives Build up your joy in heaven Hold tight to your faith View suffering as a key to get closer to God When pushed down, get up When bent over, stand tall Allow the tears For they will soon become smiles We’re only suffering for the moment ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Judgement Thomas R. “Shall
we take his name?” a sergeant asked. The
Judge said, “No. I’ll let it pass.” What
are the charges against this man? He
is a sinner and has defied the divine plan So
the man stood there, he knew it was the end The
court stared him down, he knew they’d never bend The
Prosecutor read what he had done Adultery,
Thievery, Pride, and Lust… He’s
a Liar, a Cheater, and he would not trust The
plan that you had for his life No
sir…he gambled and drank, soon divorced his wife “But
your honor,” said the man “I was a good guy.” Says
the Prosecutor “No!
This man must die!” He
lived a dark life. Much shooting and stabin’ This
man deserves Hell for rocking Satan’s ban wagon The
Judge cleared his throat, he had to make a decision There
had to be more to life than just livin’ He
thought about it hard…what would he do? He
couldn’t give the man death…He soon saw the truth Then
it hit the Judge, there would be much pain… It
would be a loss, but it would be a gain I have seen what you’ve done And it saddens my heart I loved you from the beginning I loved you from the start But now it is clear That you can’t do it alone With sins such as yours You will never come home But here is the verdict Here is the call I will sacrifice myself I will take the fall The road that’s ahead will be filled
with much fear I’ll take the hit, I’ll shed the tear I’ll take the blame for your life
full of sin Though it won’t be your loss It will be your win Now is the time…I must go alone And with that, the Judge said, “Welcome Home.” These poems reflect my students’ ideas on
power, glory, grace, childhood, sin, and/or redemption. My students wrote these poems after
free-writing about one of the above topics, and prior to reading Graham
Greene’s The Power and the Glory. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I Will
Always Remember… Casey M. Being
in Watching
my dad play football. The
smell of the fresh cut grass, Watching
the quarterback throw a pass. Being
my dad’s biggest fan, Seeing
him tackle the opponents as they ran. The
players always seeming so large, The
way they let their opponent know who was in charge. The
excitement on every Sunday for the game, Knowing
every player’s number and name. Waiting
outside the locker room, Hoping
my dad would come out soon. So
I could tell him how well he had done, And
hearing him say, “Thank you, son.” Even
when I knew my dad was in pain, I
never once heard him complain. Because
football is a game of both physical and mental strength, And
the courage he taught me was of immeasurable length. In
football, dedication can never be fully measured, One
must play simply for the pleasure. These
memories of football always bring a smile to my face, And
I know this will always be the case. My
dad helped instill in me a love for the game, And
taught me to play for the love of the sport, never the fame. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Crucifixion Thomas R. Hear the clank of the nails as they pierce His
hands See the power in His face as they beat this man When you crack from the straps, it numbs the back Crucifixion makes your lungs collapse You had to see the way that they flogged Him Blood leaked, He was weak when they mocked Him Tired and thirsty, too, He gave it on the cross For me and you Mentally, put yourself in the state of mind He, allegedly, was the crime He went up the hill standing tall He took the Fall A ring of thorns worn as a crown Hear the people saying, “Crucify Him, pass it
down.” So there He was, His name up above His passion, His mercy, His pain, His love From the garden to the road that lay ahead The hands were washed, soon He would be dead Up on that Hill, were two others at His side He said to one, “We will be in “Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “Father, forgive them for they know not what they
do.” His feet were nailed, curse words would fly The day was dim, there was no blue in the sky The final moment was soon to come The deed was done The whips had flung God’s Son was hung His last breath Came from His lips The Curtain was ripped All was lost, gone, relinquished His head was bowed “It is Finished.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Redemption David B. Darkness The light, shines through a doorway. I walk through a garden of infinite beauty. A presence surrounds me. Power A tear falls to my cheek. I wonder at the grace and love I feel. I sit contemplating, why. Grace I watch my
past sins. I stare as my transgressions haunt me again. My mistakes in childhood. Sorrow All my wrongs leave me. My evil pattern is broken and torn. My sins are gone. Calm My guilt dies away. Peace befalls upon my soul and I am calm. Feelings of forgiveness flower. Serenity The end of the race. The gates open to me and the trumpets sound. I am a sinner no more Redemption. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Girl Madison E. The girl
reflects upon her childhood filled with lolly pops, ice cream, and candy. When in
the water, the girl felt the rays beat down a tan. Her
bubble gum tongue on occasion spit out sinful words. Her green
eyes of envy sometimes took all the glory. Peace,
love, and grace as a ballerina were what she expressed. Will this
girl receive redemption from the three in one? Although
she is a sinner she is not blinded from the holy three in one. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Why Me? Nolan R. I’m
ruined, I’m finished There’s
nothing I can do The
punishment is inevitable I
will be destroyed This
is my own doing It
is my fault I
want to change, God help me! I
will still pay the price But
what is this? My
chains are broken? I
am no longer bound to my death I
am free again My
life will go on I
will never go back there I
am changed But…Why
am I here? What
have I done? Only
evil, and yet this is my prize? My
consequence was death, why do I deserve this? “You
don’t. It is freely given.” Who
are you? “One
who loves you.” Why,
why do you choose me? “Because
you choose me” Well,
what must I do? “Nothing.” What
must I give? “Everything.” What
happens now? “I
go.” You
go where? “I
go in your stead.” Why? “I
love you.” Thank
you. “I
love you.” Well,
good luck. “I
love you.” God
be with you. “I
love you.” I…I…I
love you also. “Live,
it is finished.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Man in
the Chair David R. The
man in the chair he sits at his desk, Pretending
he’s strong when in truth he’s a mess. His
childhood bright, good fun with no darkness ‘Til
he became someone who seemed heartless. “If
only I knew,” he screamed to himself, “Then
maybe the real me would not be on the shelf.” The
man in the chair he sits at his desk, Pretending
he’s strong when in truth he’s a mess. All
for power’s sake, he threw it away Not
realizing his emptiness at the end of the day. “Why
did I do it,” he muttered aloud, “My
spirit would be free, as light as a cloud.” The
man in the chair he sits at his desk, Pretending
he’s strong when in truth he’s a mess. In
blindness he looked fro success at its peak When
long hours and void was all he could seek. “All
for the money,” he groaned in despair, “Is
this all I live for, is this all I care?” The
man in the chair he sits at his desk, Pretending
he’s strong when in truth he’s a mess. In
search of new life he went to a church And
sat on a stone right next to a birch. “Oh
God, save me from this I say,” was his plea, “I
am a sinner in want of a savior, yes that is me!” Redemption
was sweet, the theme of that day. No
longer in death, but life was the pay. The
man in the chair, he sits at his desk, Believing
in God, living life at its best. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A Metal
Track Andrew C. Green
long meadows A
metal track The
train glides through An
easy, peaceful glide Passing
cows and trees Destination
unknown Subtle
bumps, the speed increases Looming
clouds pass overhead Quick
bends become sharper Dips
become deeper Still,
the speed increases A
shriek of steam stutters The
track incomplete Lightning
reveals the whisper of a man Sweating,
pounding, working The train speeds closer The
hammer sounds the last bang The
man falls, the train passes Swiftly,
yet safely The
train glides through An
easy, peaceful glide Passing
cows and trees Destination
unknown ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Lust for
Power Jeremy R. We lust after power and glory, Wanting to make it into a story. We make it such a big deal, That it messes with the way we feel. Someone always ends up hurt, Face down in the dirt. The lust for power overtakes us, It never makes us, only breaks us. We run after it, as on a treadmill, Always going uphill. We try to reach the top, But something says to stop. Our friends try to tell us, But we think they are just jealous. Power corrupts the mind, And puts us in a bind. Some people don’t realize it, But glory comes with it. Glory tags along for the ride, To see if it can destroy our pride. The temptation for more, Drives us straight to the door. We want all the power and glory, To make an unforgettable story. No matter how hard we try, We can always look to the sky. God has ultimate power, Stands larger than any tower. If we glorify His name, We will never be put to shame. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Crash Daniel A. Crash, crackle, crackle The sure dominance is obvious They are unstoppable, with an uncontrolled power They are an enormous blue destruction machine Capable of giving glory or complete embarrassment The power of a wave can never be matched. Crash, crackle, crackle The waves ram the rocks Sounding almost soothing to the ear The enormous body is met with millions of pebbles With enough strength to put down the wave The sound can be compared to breaking bones Or twigs on a busy pathway. Crash, crackle, crackle The powerful waves are gazed upon by onlookers They look like lions hunting down their prey A man clutches his surfboard like a lifeline He paddles out against the massive blue ocean A wave is mounted like a wild horse It blows and crashes, trying to buck the surfer off The surfer falls and his lifeline is broken Crash, crackle, crackle. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Glory Chas S. The
Glory of finishing the race, The
Glory of being the best, The
Glory of being a leader, The
Glory of serving those in need, It
is the best feeling of all. The
feeling of accomplishment Nothing
can match this delight It
is not given for free But
earned from hard training. Some
say that it is a sin, But
we are only Man and that is that. Man
cannot give up The
pursuing of Glory The
striving for Glory The
craving for Glory The
passion for Glory To
know that they are worth something That
after all of their work It
is their time to shine in the spotlight. Once
one has tasted it They
cannot let go of it So
they work again and again For
just one more chance to feel This
sensation of fame and Glory. And
it is just that, which drives Competition. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Grace,
Forgiveness, Redemption Cullen W. Forgiveness
from sorrow Forgiveness
from sin Forgiveness
from suffering Forgiveness
within Grace
freely given Grace
received by those who seek it Grace
redeems those who gain it Grace
is everlasting and eternal. Redemption
from the past Redemption
from the present Redemption
for the future Redemption
to regain the past, present, and future. For
forgiveness one must find it For
grace one must seek it For
redemption one can’t earn it Yet
all go hand in hand Some
found from within Some
found from your friends Some
found from your family Some
found just in life. Forgiveness,
grace, and redemption All
needed, all received None
exists without the others All
the same, all in one. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Power: A Gift,
A Curse, A Responsibility Colby K. Power, the ultimate Gift, The ultimate Curse, The ultimate Responsibility. The Gift of Power exceeds all gifts. The right to Lead, The privilege to influence. The goal of a man, To use this precious gift, Bestowing upon this earth his heavenly views. The Curse of Power belittles all curses. Villain to his followers. Demon to the Earth. The Curse of Power brings with it The edge of an abyss, One slip and never more. The Responsibility of Power surpasses all responsibilities. The temptation of corruption. The sacrifice of one’s life. With power comes the greatest responsibility, The responsibility to humble yourself To the needs of others. Power, the ultimate Gift, The ultimate Curse, The ultimate Responsibility. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ First
Steps of Life Jimmy C. A new baby came into the world to shine Day by day he grew and grew He showed his beautiful face to the world Which made the world come to know Ralphy, the front runner of the line. Friends and fun were the only one To make a child scream and clap A laugh, a cry made a day Being alone was not very exciting Come on friends, let’s go play! School became a time of joy Fights and rough play equaled trouble But Ralphy did not know better Sad day always come to mind Ralphy always became happy after reading his mom’s
weekly letter. Basketball was the game to play Fast and tough play was the key Unless you were extremely good Ralphy was great but hated by others But he just took his route to flee. Childhood came closer to an end Teenage years were waiting ahead Ralphy just realized what meant the most to him You never get anything back in life So do not take anything for granted and live it to
the fullest! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Memories
of Childhood Kelsey H. Childhood A
time when you have little worries And
you have big wonders. When
you believe more And
question less. Childhood A
time when you are naïve and gullible Taking
in every word spoken to you, As
the skin on your cheeks Takes
in the rays of the sun. Childhood A
time when you are careless And
free of the responsibilities of the world. When
your biggest concern is awaiting the arrival of the Ice Cream Truck And
who really is your best friend? Childhood A
time of playing and laughing Around
in the backyard of your house. Swimming
in the pool Until
you can hardly see your own hands. Childhood A
time of hand games and baby dolls Or
play cars and toy guns. When
boys have cooties And
the girls smell. Childhood A
time we think of fondly, And
all of us miss Wishing
to go back While
looking back with a smile. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Childhood Marc T. Being
the youngest of them all Growing
up I stood out tall. I
cried whenever they wouldn’t pick me up And
made me crawl. No
matter what sport, I was raised with a ball, I
was taught when on the field to give it my all. We
played two-hand touch on the street, Neither
team ever wanting to get beat. We
played all day in the Until
our mothers called us in to eat. We
all went to the same school When
we hung out we thought we were so cool. We
wore our pants to the ground and mobbed around, Walking
to the basketball courts, pushing people down. I
was very popular being the clown. We
used to pick fights because that’s how we got down. But
one day things got all changed around. My
parents were sending me out of town, I
was at Oaks Christian of Westlake Village bound. All
my friends thought I was joking around, But
the truth was this was all really going down. I
even had to take a test to get into the school. Not
wanting to go, I didn’t try my best But
I still got in, and had to leave the rest. Now
that I look back, that was probably the best Because
now all I have to do is handle the rest. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A Plea
for Grace Nina R. Dear God I pray for
redemption I pray to be forgiven for
my faults and sins And to demonstrate my love
for you as soon as the day begins Even during my childhood I
was a sinner Even now I pray to
experience your grace Grace is the true symbol
of love Love is your most powerful
power To experience your power
one doesn’t need much Just love for you and your
healing touch Please grab my hand and
hold me tight So that I may become
stronger in faith, hope and love So that I may confess your
name and give thanks Once I’ve experienced your
undeniable grace To live a life of truth is
hard Especially for us, the
sinners Knowing you is one thing But loving you is even
harder Because with love comes
sacrifice Which is what you did Your love is what paid our
price Our lives can end in an
instant With a simple roll of a
dice Yet love and comfort are
never far away If I learn to show you my
love every new day Grace and redemption are
what I pray for To be a sinner no more is
what I wish To stop making the same
mistakes of the past is what I must do I kneel and I pray And it is your hand which
I kiss |
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I Will
Always Love You Neille F. “He tries to
think of his child with shame, but he could only think of her with a kind of
famished love-what would become of her?” -Page 118: The Power and the Glory I
tried to think of you with shame, But
I can only think of you in love. A
Love so deep and famished; What
will become of you? I
have watched you grow up, Making
mistakes on your own. When
you disown completely I
will always love you. I
have no shame in you. I
love you as a beggar loves Those
few coins in his pocket. He
cherishes them and never lets them out of his sight. That
is how much I love you. I
love you as a child loves her favorite doll, Who
receives special treatment and sleeps next to the child every night. When
the doll is lost, the child cries, And
can’t sleep until the doll is found. That
is what it is like with you. I
love you and could never stop. If
you are lost, I don’t sleep until you are found. If
you are sad, I cry for you. If
you hurt, I want to take away your pain. I
will always love you. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Beauty In
Sin? Suddenly we discover our sins have so much beauty After we abandon our Christianly duty. In such a wretched place It’s possible to see God’s face. But is it really Him? Are you mistaken in light so dim? For Satan is the deceiver of nations, Working among God’s creations. Animals fill this dark cell, The “pious” damn them all to hell. Who are these “saints” that live among us, Who are so intolerant and put up such a fuss? Are we not to love? And follow suit of our Father above? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Beauty Stephanie
M. Suddenly we discover that our sins
have so much beauty Sin, something unwanted yet
unavoidable How could it be that sin is
beautiful? Roses are beautiful, the ocean is beautiful,
the clouds are beautiful, But sin? No, sin could not
possibly be beautiful It may be inevitable, but
admirable? One may wonder where sin ends, Once the act is committed, the sin
is over Or maybe its possible that it goes
further than that It was once said that to do things
correctly You must first attempt it
incorrectly Could it be possible that the sin
itself isn’t beautiful, But what you learn from it? Living is experiencing,
experiencing is learning Learning from mistakes makes it
all worthwhile And that is the beauty of it. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Apology
Before Death Tadd E. Leave me alone, I will soon be six feet deep. Nothing left except a bone There is no need to weep. For I am unworthy, The only one to blame I lied to you, and what for Fame and so everyone knew my name. But look at me now. I am a coward I was blind to see the pain I caused you Or was it my shame that was blinding, And now inside I am dieing. Can’t you see? All the pain and misery I can’t die with regret. Be my eyes for me, Let me see what you see in me. So I may die knowing My life was complete. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Untitled Chris C. Man was so limited that he
couldn’t invent a new vice. How many others, like me,
go to their human-created God? How many others, like me,
use mere glass and liquid to solve problems? It solves nothing,
however, as I should know. I run and I run, soon
they’ll catch me. All along I hold my God. Not the God from above,
but the God that my title implies. Rather, my God is
tangible. Shall I not be more than
this, because of my title? Shall I not be like the
other men, using the same vice? I don’t like my title, not
at all. One problem after another,
never really solved, but I use the same solution. Back to the bottle, I always
return. Like a moth to the flame,
like sheep to the slaughter. My God I hold, my God I
drink. Whiskey priest indeed –
back to the bottle. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Somewhere
Safe Marshall
J. Am I safe? Where can I be safe? I will be safe Somewhere safe where I can be able to play again. Somewhere free from alcohol and drugs Somewhere safe from thieves and drive-by shootings Somewhere safe from acts of terrorism Somewhere safe from manipulation Somewhere safe from deadly diseases Somewhere safe from dad’s booming voice Can you see that safe place? Because I can, I can see that safe place I’m going to that safe place Somewhere where I can play again. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A Poem of
Power Alexa R. Power Makes the small man big, Creates a tree from what was once a twig Greed often follows power, It can make a man hate within the strike of an hour A world corrupt is caused by this thing; Jealousy and anger erupt from its spring Everyone wants to achieve great power, In some shape or form it is what we are after But once in the trap it’s so hard to let go, So hard to return to the world down below So many are blinded by this deceiving demon, Drawn into the light not knowing what to believe in Power blurs the vision, and clouds the mind Let this be a lesson, you will learn in due time. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Ride Duke L. Full
of potential, this root will eventually grow, Grow
to something beautiful? Only one can hope to know, For
this seed of life contains ups and downs and twists and turns It’s
a roller coaster so bumpy, your insides churn As
this ride begins, everything is smooth and exciting, The
electrifying presence of hope jolts through your bones like lightning This
confidence feels relentless, as if it could never run out These
feelings sparkle so brightly, are truly what childhood is about The
ride gets higher, though, and the sparkle dims The
intensity increases, as the carelessness thins This
drop is capable of changing your life, The
caution sign above states, “Hold onto your hope and faith with all your
might, Because
whatever makes you the person you are will try to escape, For
without hope and faith, you will continue on this drop at a dangerous rate” All
childhood innocence quickly fades, as you reach the top and look down, As
you see the fall ahead, you grasp at the colossal distance from ground Your
stomach lumps, your heart jumps, how will you ever get out of this alive? Then
you hear a voice, oh so loud, screaming and blaring, “Welcome to real life!” Like
a sunken angel, those wings become clipped, how does one fly? When
sin is everywhere and a shoulder is chipped, how does one wave goodbye? When
the truth turns out to be unbearable, how does one not lie? All
these answers become hard to find as soon as you lose the true self inside. As
this horrific fall unwinds, you collect yourself, or what’s still there You
take a deep breath of relief and check your insides to see how bad the tear, The
wounds are deep and will forever display a scar, But
now the worst is over and now you can truly find who you are As
you get off and reminisce, you don’t regret the ride It
pushed you to the limit, exposed your self, and left nothing to hide All
you feel is incredible security, you have learned from your mistakes The
value of this new knowledge is infinite, and forever will help to form and
shape Do
not be afraid to experience pain and sorrow, It
will only make you stronger as you face tomorrow, Treat
each experience like a new weapon given To
overcome all adversity, and begin divine living. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Zero to
Six Taylor S. Childhood, A
blink in time. Where
did it go? You
often wonder. Kindergarten, Waterfalls
stream down my face. Look
to my mom, I
am free. Running
through the field, Fighting
the power of the wind. Faster,
faster I break through, I
am free. Swimming
in the blue, Slowly
sinking, Find
the wall, I
am free. In
the tent at night, Hearing
a bear, I
grab my blanky tight, I
am free. Frozen
in silence by the batter, Sing
a song. La
di de, la di da, I
am free. Childhood
fears, Why
all the fright? Am
I free? I
often wonder. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dream Molly C. Warm
sunsets, with fireflies a buzzing. Loving
all things a cut worth showing, Nothing
but fun, with memories to fill, Falling
off your bike, or rolling down the hill. Summer
games, with school lessons, You
can’t get enough, before the dinner blessings. Family
talks with ears to listen, Mom’s
special cake with ice down the middle, A
friendly sister bully, who always has your back, While
never forgetting the time you stepped on the crack. Wishing
for what you are to come, But
still wanting to stay quite young. Set
the table, and clean your room, And
still play tag under the shining moon. Walking
and talking, down the beaming street, chasing the ice cream truck that almost
had you beat. For
far too long you can’t hold back, All
that’s missing is that one hard smack, The
one home run to finish it off, And
soon go home to family talk. The
night came early and you’re still awake, But
when the stars glow bright and realization comes to fate, You
have all the time in the world, With
no cares at all, To
do what you dream, And
get up after you fall. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In My
Memory Neille F. I
watch the children playing in the sand I
listen to their constant giggles of Joy They
feel the grass between their toes And
taste the solemn air of no worries I
wish I could feel the grass between my toes While
breathing the soft air of freedom I
wish I could feel as free as a bird ready for flight I
wish I could care less for the dirt on my shoes Those
were the days….. The
days when I could play outside for hours pretending I’m a bird, Then
wonder where the time flew off to. The
days when anything became everything. The
days when imagination unfurled in my backyard. Back
to the times of a princess locked away in that tall tower Waiting
for the bravery of a knight to rescue her, Then
they rolled away in his red wagon chariot to their magic castle on the swing
set. The
days when Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Lea Rode
their two-wheeler bikes to defeat the evil bounty hunters And
in their victory rode to the planet of the kitchen to obtain their reward of
strawberry popsicles. The
days of the drive through window in the playhouse, Where
we ordered anything we wanted in our tricycles. I
can taste the apricot from that tree. I
can smell the aroma of freedom. As
I feel the grass between my toes. I
can hear the screams of joy from my fellow imaginers. I
can see the playground where I once ruled, Even
now as I think of it, but it is all in my memory. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The
Innocence of Childhood Liz F. Childhood
is a time of innocence, A
time where each day can be lived one by one, A
time where each moment is unpredicted. Childhood
is a time to laugh. A
child can pretend; Dress
in crazy outfits in front of all to see, and not be mocked. A
child can dream; Can
pretend to be anything, and not be put down, but encouraged. A
child can play; Throw
their hands in the air and spin in the rain with no cares. A
child can laugh; Not
because anything is funny, but out of happiness. A
child can paint; Pictures
of fantasies, unicorns, and fairies, Things
of the imagination that yet is all so real. A
child can dance, as if no one is watching. A
child can sleep; Only
a child can close his eyes and sleep. He
has no thoughts, worries, or cares to him up at night. In
innocence, he sleeps and dreams of the unknown, secrets that are within, that
the world still holds. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Childhood’s
Journey This is a time to have fun with your friends; A time to enjoy summer vacation to the fullest; A time to root for your favorite NBA stars at A time to play video games until dawn; A time to play basketball outside your house until
the wee hours, Forcing your neighbors to complain; This is a time to wear Nike, Instead of a suit. This is a time to learn from your mistakes; A time to develop mentors through teachers and
parents; A time to strive for excellence And to experience disappointment through failure; A time to set goals while developing a strong
work-ethic; A time to attend school and learn about the leaders
before you; A time to develop friendships that will last beyond
your middle and high school years. This is a time to set goals and use opportunities
to the fullest; A time to find inspirations and follow their path; A time to discover your gifts And not leave them to waste. This is a time to dream big… And understand that dreams do come true. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Childhood Alex K. As you come into this world, You enter a very special part of life. A time full of happiness, But a time full of tears. A time full of joy, But also stories of pain. You always want to grow up And miss this part of your life. Although seemingly endless, This time passes before you even know it. Cherish this time while you still have it. This is childhood. In childhood, you always wish to grow older, But grow old all too quickly You seem to be full of innocence, But are full of mischievous ideas. You are not always seen as very smart, But through your own eyes you are a genius. You often admire and look up to older people, But sometimes dislike those who look up to you. You always want to be taken seriously, But rarely act maturely. This great time passes far too quickly. This great time is childhood. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Time
of Our Lives Michelle
C. Bedtime at Awake by The days when nothing ever went wrong It seemed as if cloudy days didn’t exist Endless laughter filled the cul-de-sac every day Impatiently waiting for the ice cream truck to
bounce down With eyes wide open and ears eager for the melody,
we waited Chanting, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for
ice cream!” Excited, we chased the truck down Eagerly ordering the Tweety popsicle Quickly grabbing the blue gum-drop eyes Cheerfully chewing them as if I hadn’t eaten in days Swimming gave us a sense of excitement, Diving into the pool like a rock hitting water Swimming night and day Sleepovers were continuous Telling stories all night Eating candy nonstop and watching movies Riding bikes on Christmas was traditional Showing each other new toys No worries of school or work Stress wasn’t in our vocabulary Just enjoying each and every day to the fullest These childhood days were like nothing else Nothing can
replace the days when I was a child. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A Day at
the Beach Allison H. A
day at the beach Waiting
for that bang That
bang that makes your feet want to jump. As
the bang sounds My
feet spring from the soft sand Running My
heart is beating faster As
I enter the icy water My
body starts to shake I
press forward To
reach what seems to be the end of the ocean I
finally reach the buoy I’m
half way there As
I regain feeling The
strokes flow Onward
I press Pushing
myself further than before Each
stroke and each breath Closer
to the shore As
I pass the others It
comes time To
exit the water And
come to the finish line My
feet hit the warm sand The
blazing sun on my back My
body no longer trembling The
others follow in a pack As
I cross the finish I
hear people scream “You’re
the first woman to finish!” A
shy grin came across my face I
just finished the race. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Four
Quarters Sean W. Life is four quarters. An ability to possess Power, Achieving temporal or everlasting Glory, Receiving and giving of Grace, And pursuing ultimate Redemption. To have power is man’s dream. Money, fame, success open this door, Yet it’s accompanied by responsibility. Will it be used to help the weak? Or to manipulate them? Glory can be temporary or everlasting. No one wants to be forgotten, But seek out highest levels of Glory. It is not merely stumbled upon, But something worked for and earned. Grace is not learned ordinarily. Not learned through religion, Whether Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, doesn’t matter. To receive grace is a blessing, But to give it is a miracle. Redemption is always on backorder. Both good and bad at the same time, To need it means something bad, But receiving it is all that matters. With all four quarters a person is one. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Redemption Stephanie
M. Alone
again, just the way she liked it Isolation
suited her Fear
consumed her Judgmental
thoughts flowing through Causing
her to shrink further away She
thought if she was alone, she was safe From
criticism and fear She
believed she could hide Even
though she stayed alone, Memories
of past mistakes played ceaselessly She
thought she was alone But
she couldn’t have been more wrong While
her conscience played upon her mind, Another
was watching, waiting With
every stroke of pain she felt, He
felt it too He
desperately wanted to free her, Save
her from the agony But
he was forced to hold back. Finally,
the timing was perfect As
she sat alone, tears streaming down her face He
reached out to her, if only for a moment But
she knew it, she felt it Yet
she couldn’t accept She
was thrown into the thoughts of the past sin Still
he pushed on, never leaving her side Still
every time she refused Only
imperfect pictures crossed her mind She
knew she wasn’t good enough Annoyed
with his persistence, She
began to question his intentions “You
don’t want me,” she thought Yet
as she gazed into his eyes She
knew it wasn’t true “I’m
not perfect,” she started to say But,
once again, his glance told her it didn’t matter He
strode across the empty room And
extended his arm to her Precious
moments passed Her
gaze fixed upon his hand She
knew she didn’t deserve his grace Despite
the immense fear, she placed her hand in his Immediately,
all fear left her All
doubt, all worry, all sorrow, all gone For
the first time she felt redemption She
felt a sense of welcoming toward the door She
suddenly realized the consuming darkness of the room She
couldn’t remember why she was there She
just knew she wanted to get out With
Him here to guide her, She
could go anywhere, everywhere For
the first time, she knew she wasn’t alone And
she never wanted to lose it again. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Alone Amanda C. She
lay strewn on the floor, alone and a sinner. She
had fallen from grace. It
was as if her flame burnt out, Her
once peaceful spirit had been extinguished. Her
eyes once shining like sunlight, now glazed Over
and dull. No
one knew how she truly felt, No
one seemed to care. Life’s
perils seemed to consume her every thought Once
happy, joyful, and free Now
trapped, alone, and bitter. Darkness
crept upon her. She
was drowning in tears of sorrow. She
was in her own world now Instead
of living her dreams She
was living her fears. For
dreams meant nothing to her now, nothing at all. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Sin and
Redemption Matt F. As I gaze upon the starry sky, There is something I must realize. No matter how much power I can attain, Will my glory still remain? If I pass from this ungrateful place, Will what I’ve done go to waste? With whom will my fame remain, Will my name go to shame? After all, nothing yet I have done, Is new under the sun. Wasted away my life has been, Committing nothing, but one big sin. Cheating, lying, stealing, gossip, Fighting, drugs, adultery, Selfishness, arrogance, conceit, Upon my heart they do eat. Cold and hard it has become, Is there anything that can be done? Can I save my worthless soul, On which the depths of hell do pull? Gazing at the brightest star, Appear three angels from afar, “He has come” they say, “For your sins, He will pay.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ No Longer
of Men and Kings Daniel K. Pursue glory if you choose What have you got to lose? Glory is ours to unearth. We all seek it from birth. Pictures of Patton swirl in our mind Because glory is so hard to find. Fight to the last man, the last heartbeat And you will never find defeat. The glory will then be yours With such magnitude it will seep from your pores. Power comes with glory, And people everywhere will know your story. Kings from far off lands Will be powerless in your hands Because the power you hold is frightening And your enemy’s fear is ever heightening. The sword you wield disheartens Even the most fearless of Spartans. No longer are you of men and kings, No, you are far above these things. Proceed with care, As thoughts of corruption fill the air. Pictures of Patton no longer in view Now they’re all of you. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Taste of
Corrupted Power Brady S. As I look above at the people in the tower Wishing that I had a taste of their freedom and
power I find myself watching and hating While the opportunity is already awaiting O how sweet it must taste to drink from the
fountain That makes you feel high like you’ve just climbed a
mountain The journey is long and the risk is too great But if I wait too long it might be too late I keep climbing and climbing my way to the top What makes me so driven that I just can’t stop? Is it money or power or the desire to be free? Or is it the man I know I could be? So when did this man become so obsessed That the real reason inside has become so
grotesque? The man has changed and is lost in his mind For the power has corrupted and is lost inside Does he remember the reason for this life long
pursuit? Was it the nice silver tie with the black blazer
suit That made him feel like he was worth something too? The reason is lost and nothing seems new The power has corrupted and has become his
regression Of what started so simple and became an obsession He got so far yet it didn’t seem worth it And at the end of his time he said he didn’t
deserve it More poems to come! |