Suicide
A butterfly crosses my path.
Our eyes meet.
I feel my body being filled with total love and understanding from
my head down to my feet.
No matter what is going on in my life God gives me signs that
he is there and that it will be ok on the end.
Every time i think of making that huge mistake again,
I just think of the butterfly.
- debbie elsen, age 14
My Cat
My cat is named Tiger
Because he has stripes.
When he's mad he cries, "GRRRRR!"
When he scratches I say, "Yipes!"
- Mary Sierra Brodland, age 6
love
I've been away for much to long,
I hope you still feel that I belong
I didn't mean to cause u pain,
I have nothing to lose, but much more to gain
just when I thought that we were through,
I found my way right back to you
as I sit here and I think,
I see my love life within a blink,
will I die before I wake,
or will I cry before i break,
life is full of many paths,
i just sit here and pray,
pray our love will last!
- Leigh-beth Allison, age 14
Monsters
Monsters under your bed . . .
What are you to do?
Monsters under your bed . . .
What are you to do?
You can run !
You can RUN !
YOU CAN RUN !
- Maggie, age 4, July 1998
Have You Ever
Have you ever loved someone
But knew they didn't care
Have you ever looked into their eyes
And said a little prayer
Or have you looked into their heart
And wished that you were there
Don't ever fall in love
Cause it will be over before you know
If anybody knows i do
Cause i fell in love with you
- Yvonne and Amie Marino, Moreno Valley, California
Dreams
dreams are in our sleeping heads
why we lay in our little beds
we dream of good and bad things
some dreams are really sad
some are the best
and some are a pest
some dreams you have might seem real
but when u wake up there is no big deal
they're just in our heads why we sleep
some might make your heart leap
so might be about a love
but when you wake up they're gone like a dove
you might like dreams
and u might hate dreams
but whatever you think of dreams they'll always be there
no matter where you go dreams are everywhere
dreams
- Niki Fitts, age 12
Sacred Island
I awake with the sun's reflection in the sky,
I look out the window and the reflection hits my eye,
then I think let me be off to an island that's sacred,
because on this island all that I see is hatred,
so I set off my journey in a white sail,
and beside me flowing in the water a blue whale,
finally I reach my destiny in peace,
and this time the sun setted in the east.
- Sasha Rana, age 10
The Slowing Down of a Young Girl
The summer's too long, but the winter's too cold
and I always want something new.
I need to move fast and get through the days,
get it done then forget what I do.
But after awhile of this frightening pace
I start remembering just what I forgot.
Its the simple things and the quiet times
that have given me al that I've got.
I see that right now I need to slow down
and take time to enjoy the days.
If not, then I fear I will run out of time
and the memories with become just a haze.
The talks in the park, and then laughing all night,
the sharing of something so real.
But sunsets and moonlight and smiles from a friend
are things that the time can not steal.
- Alison Threlkeld, age 18
Alone
Cold and alone she smokes on the steps
Thinking of life and what's to come next.
She stares up at the sky remembering the night
Wishing to god things could just be alright.
She hangs her head slightly and gets ready for bed.
Hoping he's thinking about all she has said.
Pulling up the covers she drifts off to sleep
After praying to God her young soul to keep.
- Alison Threlkeld, age 18
The Master In The Eyes of a Dog
The person is my master,
I will always love.
She takes me for walks and cares for me.
She leads me to food and water.
She always has faith
She leads me through the right path in life
and I always will love her.
When I come to a place, I do not like,
I'm not afraid of anything because
she is always with me.
The command of your voice I will obey.
You always have a place for me
you help me with my enemies
my bowl overfills, with the kindness you give me,
all of my life, I will obey you all the time
and I will live with you,
and I will put my trust in you.
- Leslie Sabas, age 12
It's Hard to Say Good-By
(for Aubry Cogan)
Parting is such sweet sorrow
And all that silly stuff
Hugging you once or twice
Was not near enough
I wanted to see you grow
Nice and tall
To see you graduate
And that's not all
To see you walk
Down the aisle
In a white dress
With a pretty smile
To hear you say
"I do"
To bid you farewell
And adieu
And if I live this long
I swear
I'll hug you and squeeze you
And throw you in the air
When the guest are leaving
I'll be the last to go
So our last farewell will be
Better than our first hello
And with a backwards glance
I'll see
A tear upon your cheek
May be
I'll know you'll have someone
To dry your tears
And make you happy
All your years
And if by chance
I can't be there
Just read this poem
And know I care
When I look across the church
And see the empty pew
I will just imagine
That I'll be seeing you
- William Cazalas, adult
The Bee and the Rose
"I wonder," said the bee, "If I should make a wish and become a tree?"
"Oh, please don't do that," said the rose, thinking what a problem this would pose.
"And why shouldn't I become a tree?" asked the bee.
"Because upon your feet you carry pollen that is so sweet.
It fills the plants so they foliate, you see.
Another rose like me you are able to create.
If you were a tree, you would be immobile - stationary!
Not able to move about and fly free."
"I see." mumbled the bee, "So you don't want me to become a tree?"
"No, I don't want that at all!
You'd lose your color in the fall.
You'd no longer be able to socialize,
You know, with others in the hive.
You'd have to stand out in the elements tall and bold.
And you'd be covered with snow and ice when it was cold."
The bee preened himself and shook his tail.
Would he succumb to the wishes of the rose so frail?
He said with quiet chagrin, "It's the least I can do, I suppose,
For you, my lovely and favorite rose."
The bee flew off to ponder once more
And thought to himself, "I'd best think harder about what I wish for!"
- Annette Akerman, adult
The Ramblin' Man
One winter's day on a snowy hill as I stood with kin and friends,
our songs and prayers wove the tapestry of the life of a ramblin' man.
The preacher's words still echoed as we gathered there to sing,
and green grass peeking through the snow gave the hope of an early spring.
Now our brother and friend was a ramblin' man who loved to rove the land,
To work for his pay, to sing and to play in his family bluegrass band.
As much as he loved his music, and these passing earthly pleasures,
He loved his Lord with all of his heart and sought His heavenly treasures.
Now his ramblin' days on earth are done and his rest at last begun,
But the Rocky Mountains wait with him for the day when his Savior comes,
To take him ramblin' home to that great placed prepared on high,
Where those who've loved His service and His coming never die.
- R.R. Reames, adult
The Wayward Handkerchief
(a true story)
It was rush hour in Chicago on the elevated train,
The weather cold and miserable, it had started to rain.
The train was full and on a seat facing the aisle
Was a rotund man whose girth spread a mile.
A lady boarded with so many packages it was hard to hold on to these,
And as she clung to the strap over top the man, she suddenly had to sneeze.
Clumsily opening her purse, she pulled out a handkerchief,
Something lacy and dainty to wipe away her sniff,
When the train jerked and the kerchief fell from her hand
And wafted down to rest on the generous belly of the sleeping man.
Embarrassed to tears, you could read her fears.
How would she retrieve the wayward handkerchief?
About this time the train jolted again
And the man partially woke with a silly grin.
Looking down he envisioned his shirt tail hanging out.
He stuffed the handkerchief down inside his pants and went back to sleep with a pout.
The woman was mortified, and the very next stop she made her exit.
For years I've laughed and wondered, "How did the poor man ever explain it?"
- Annette Akerman
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