Redwood Trees

swaying, moving, blowing in wind
looking down at us
red, orange, yellow in fall
towering over us
brown, green and big in spring
giants of our land
nothing in our big, blue world
could ever be as grand

Doss elementary school

fourth

Blue birds

Birds are all cool
If you think different
You are a fool
Trees and grass
blue birds
aren’t to brass
you should think about
how every bird but a blue bird shouts
no no no this isn’t your typical bird
bird is the word
bunnies eat carrots
and this bird is a parrot.

Gorzycki

7

Piquancy

The words were syrupy
Coating the inside of her mouth
With a tender sweetness
It was indistinguishable
Unlike any other piquancy
she let the sugar coated mess of words
Deceive her
For after it is dried up
All she has left is
The rope of reminisce she clings to
Her hands red
As the sky
When the sun leaves its midst
She has only the cloying aftertaste
Boiling in her mouth
Yet even then she would still choose
To taste
The bittersweet mass again
She still recalled
The way her mouth danced to form the
Simple
Yet powerful words
“I love you”

Gorzycki

7th

A Furry Friendship

The loud, impatient scratching at the door.
A blur of fur from window to window.
Jumping, barking, spinning, smiling and more.
Oh, the excitement when you show.
Kind, gentle eyes that beg for attention,
Floppy ears listening to every word.
A wet nose, sniffing what you didn’t mention,
They speak in a way that isn’t heard.
Happily wagging their furry tails,
Slightly tilting their head as you speak,
Internally laughing at your fails,
Walking in, for it is you that they seek.
An everlasting bond that never ends,
Is a friendship formed with mans best friend.

Anderson High School

9th

Colorblind

I wish to distinguish color from color,
Feeling mood from
Beautiful visuals that induce emotion.

I cannot experience the calm, serene hue of blue
No feeling of peace and tranquility.
Non-existent to me are cloudless skies and gloomy rain
That leave me with sorrow as I will never see this color.

Confusion is overwhelming as I mentally mix different shades of brilliant red,
An energy full of power, love, and danger which I fail to perceive.
Gone are roses and blood
I’m engulfed in rage for I will never see this warmth.

I jump at the slightest possibility of happiness,
Deceived by the false spirit of optimism,
Silenced by the absence of the sun and bananas
I’m blinded by the enlightenment I want to contact desperately.

I wish to distinguish color from color,
Feeling mood from
Beautiful visuals that induce emotion.

Gorzycki Middle School

7

A Sunday Night in my Bed

A brief ease —
found in vivid blue
with arms of
deceiving light.

hands strike
into a dark haze

left with
a lump of coal
in my throat.

I gnaw at the skin
near my nails

Where does my head go
when I rot?

Did Andrew Tart notice how
I pronounced “ethereal” wrong?

A cruel virus —
glued into the
depths of my DNA.

James Bowie High school

12th

Condemned

(inspired by poet Terrance Hayes)

Hey, I am learning what it means to ride condemned.
Tossed amongst the eager waves dodging,

sharks teeth and glaring glass eyes.
A stain on your neighbor’s apron.

Under heavy covers waiting, for the sun to rise and stomp
dreams out to the curb with Monday’s trash.

Somewhere a child sits criss-cross, Awaiting answers only
Your instruction could provide.

But you ignore, and ignorance prevails,
The cavities triumphing, shining in silver.

Plato’s cave is home. With sunflowers in the yard
And bars over the windows.

The books punctuating the walls are all diaries
Locked, like the empty seats reserved for ghosts.

Hey, I am still learning what I’ve known my entire life.
That you take steps on the moon and I walk on broken glass.

James Bowie High school

11th grade

Raining Blues

It’s raining cats and dogs.
The sky is sad and gray.
The windows have a touch of fog
And no one’s out to play.
But soon the sun will shine
The smell of wet, sweet pine
And no one will have a clue
I had the Raining Blues.
And when the sun does shine
The smell of warm, sweet pine
Outdoors will be just fine
And be filled with great delight.
And when the sky is a blue
River of sparkling jewels
Then there will be no use
On having
The Raining Blues.

Ann Richards School

9th

A Simple Flower

Just like a flower
my heart unfolds
to find a place
so cruel and cold.
They feed me with
a bitter kind
but it can change
a child’s mind
And as I grow
the world it darkens
Threatening scenes
my petal shockens
And as I wither
I’m often mindless
A scarring thriller
for the wound widens.
My roots will dry
un-crumble down
You’ll spot a seed
upon the ground.
You’ll pick it up
and truly see
what it can do
to you and me.
Just like a flower
my heart unfolds
to find a place
so cruel and cold.
Don’t be a flower
stuck on the ground
Just find the power
and be the crowned.
A simple flower
Is all it takes
to show the world
Its great disgrace.