Thursday, May 18, 2023

May Showers

 

Our spring allergies are coaxing tears: enjoy crying with us through this lachrymose May post. Now where is my Flonase? 

Let My Eyes Close

 

Puffy little marshmallows,

The tufts of fluff in rabbits’ ears,

A numbing coat of Aloe Vera

Across my burns and tears.

 

Slide a hand across my face

Though it seems so face away,

It’s warm and light like a feather duster

Keeping the dust at bay.

 

Swaddled up like a little lad,

A young mouse pup in their nest

Eyes wide open, lashes fluttering,

Waiting to fall into rest.

 

Feel my lips shudder softly,

Gasp as air stutters past,

Let my eyes close gently and slowly

and quietly…

 

As sleep engulfs me at last.

 

by Richard W., Grade 8

  Author’s note:  “it was MEANT to be nice and positive…”

 

by Mariana M., Grade 7


Hidden in the light, hidden in the dark

 

A lucent yellow light floods a pitch-black room in color

The same light against the sun is weak, diluted by radiant gold rays.

A story is told by one of dishonor, mischief, and fury,

then told by one of trauma, sorrow, and misfortune.

We all have blind spots in our vision, things we do not want to see.

The light tricks our eyes, playful, as if our trust is simply a game.

 

For whom are we to believe?

When the light distorts our thoughts

For whom are we to believe?

Without all-knowing knowledge.

 

Maybe if we could see in the dark, we could find the deceit.

Maybe if we could block out the sun, we could pinpoint the lie.

 

The light hides the truth

The sane

The right

The shadow hides the false

The betrayal

The wrong

simply trust your gut

Your mind

Your heart

 

Because nothing looks the same in the light than in the dark.

 

by Anya A., Grade 9


Being There

 

no name | no type of story

(Amy rising, now Everybody!)

 

by Jack D., Grade 9


Artwork by Mackenzie J., Grade 8


Sub Rosa

 

Out beneath the Sakura tree

They’ll approach with faces rose red

For just a moment, they’ll let themselves forget

And they’ll leave with brief laughter

And hair newly braided

While you hide your daisies from sight

 

You’ll keep it sub rosa, darling

Keep it hush-hush

They’ve no need to see

The flowers blooming

Beneath your bandaged wrists

Those roots of entropy

 

You’re a peacekeeper

A mediator

Your wish to help them smile

Between stomped out cigarettes

And bleeding burns

And debts

 

How cruel you’d be

To add another worry

When you can hold it together alright

 

by Mackenzie J., Grade 8

 

When you wrote MY independence, were you looking at ME?

 

Did the freedom fighters really fight for freedom?

I mean, for the dark skins, light skins, all the people of color

Is freedom really freedom if you enslave someone else instead?

 

Did you know butchered sold tortured gawked at

Not a pig in a slaughterhouse but a real human being

chased with dogs and shot at

High class society fancy dresses tailored suits prim and pressed

Her families dinner for a year traded for a frilly dress

Hushed quieted can you please zip your mouth

Because mama always told me No one like it when the truth gets out

Except for the wronged the persecuted the struggled

and here are the words out the mouths of the people,

I have been [REDACTED] down south they would [REDACTED]

That’s weird why can’t I speak, how about we try again [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

7 minorities all brutally impacted

If you don’t like the world than try to just act within it

I did try I tried and [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

That’s not what I said but here I am being censored instead

sorry if I am apprehensive but you will not cut my words off

That’s what I say but I’m shut down by white men in big suits that drink Jack Smirnoff

   Shut it down NO you will hear me out

 I am aggressive I am loud, so they put me in a cage

I am not an animal, but I am looking for a change

I will not shut it down and I will not cave or behave

 

I am a voice, I am impacted

Ignore me “redacted” but the fact is

If you don’t listen don’t help me help us

  Then do not be surprised when one day WE cut YOU off

 

by Avalyn C., Grade 8


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