My body coldens
Crescent moon opens my soul
Sublime within me
— Leah Banzhof
My body coldens
Crescent moon opens my soul
Sublime within me
— Leah Banzhof
I groaned and bent over as my emotions fought inside. As they tore out of my chest, I screamed in agony. Three creatures whipped around me, screeching, howling and whispering their names.
A fiery phoenix screeched the loudest, proclaiming, “I am passion, anger, desires! I whip the others with my flaming tongue!”
A demonized shadow creature hissed at me, “I am fear, darkness and hostility, you cannot escape from my clutches.” I flinched away, not wanting to be near the disgusting thing.
A watery fish began to suffocate me, blubbing, “I am sadness, depression, anxiety…” I shoved it away, gasping for breath.
Finally, after all hope seemed to vanish, after I had fallen to my knees, I felt a gentle warm hand rest on my shoulder. I slowly looked up, blinking away tears.
A warm gentle glow emitted from a human like figure, and it spoke in soft voice. “I am hope, love, compassion. Don’t fear, I am stronger than the others. I will always be there for you, in multiple shapes, sizes and forms. Look around, there will always be hope, love and compassion.” I smiled and nodded, as the creatures that had caused me distress, now become insignificant, entered back in. The golden figure was the last to enter, sealing my chest and warming my heart.
I no longer felt the other three creatures, only hope warmed my heart.
— Abby Burrows
People terrified
the sky growing
dark quickly
like moving
MOUNTAINS
— Gregory Ventura
Lost in dreams with the demons.
In fake worlds with fake smiles.
Everyone has an angel from heaven.
— Brianna Oberdorf
Profound and mysterious
Confident and steady
Though a small scratch
Can create an open wound
The dark seems to creep through the crevices
Of the deepest trenches
Consuming and feeding
The infection is spreading
The foulest demons spawn
Where the angels reside
Scratching and screaming, the sickness
It’s calling your name
The infections taken over
Controls you, consumes you
Just keep telling yourself
“It’s only in my head.”
— Anonymous
Don’t kill me
but if you did, how would I know?
my heads been elevated upwards into the sky
my eyes have sunk into my sockets
and my mouth has been sewed shut
with a tiny piece of thread made of human remains
i can’t seem to find the right words
the voices in my head don’t speak without consent
silence can speak louder than a hyena with an ongoing laugh
don’t you dare say i’m wrong
nobody is perfect
except the ones who believe a happy soul is not lying
when in reality, their happiness is radiated off someone else’s.
you’re so oblivious so a person with no brain could understand
that oblivion is not inevitable
and stars have no faults
don’t blame all your mistakes
on someone with a heart of gold
while yours stays silver
my heart will continue to swell as long as that gun is held to your head
telling me “i’ll do it”
but i left before that bullet did.
because my eyes weren’t on your finger
they were on you.
— S.L
Angels fall and darkness descends,
The earth is plagued by the arms of men.
Children crying, families departed.
Love is torn apart, left broken hearted.
Aching cries and soft noises,
Ignored, drowned out by loud, angry voices.
A touch of disdain, a sprinkle of despite,
A world filled with pain, remorse, and fright.
It takes one with courage, bold and brave,
Fearless and knowing, welcoming the grave.
They are the ones who keep on the fight.
Showing the world that there is little light.
These are the ones who are unknown and nameless.
They may be called guardians, who are selfless and faceless.
When blood has been scented, seen and drawn,
They all rise up, at the age of dawn.
Hunting and scouting, healing despairs,
Peasants are sobbing, saying their prayers.
All is lost or so it may seem.
When all is awaken, twas like a dream,
They have all seemed to have made their mark,
Chasing out others, still left in the dark.
There is one place in this world that is protected.
No diseases, no pain, a sanctum left unaffected.
Are you ready to see it, this strange sweet land?
Here let me guide you, just take my dear hand.
— Lizzie Lefever
Hair unkempt
eyes that wept
the lonely tears
of long lost fears
Days old shirt
scars that hurt
bring night as day
and a new way
Walking here
stifling fear
confidence lost
at a great cost
They are done
no more fun
a heart now cracked
happiness lacked
Wars were fought
help was sought
after two had
fallen too bad
She will stray
far away
from friend and friend
until its end
Lovely Doe
had a Foe
but dashing buck
just had no luck
Baby Fawn
was a pawn
in their quarrel
among the sorrel
but they kept
far except
a friendship nears
after long years
–MacKenzie Lewis
Hidden in towering weeds
her chocolate eyes only feeds
the unveiling of something new
that only occurred to a few
Vanilla against the earthy mud
a blossom of a flowering bud
farm fresh fields forever found
in her heart to everyone bound
Energy sprouts from her
in large bushels of creamy fur
the moon, stars and sun
are her only eyes on fun
Three had come and passed
two large hearts had massed
lively spirit and all
only seems to fall
Not in her but me
heartache it seems to be
for years are falling
and death is calling
She puts up a fight
hyper despite
cancerous shadows emerge
and health wants to surge
My friend, family, love
harmless as a dove
stands on her fours
with her fighting roars
— MacKenzie Lewis
1.)
The castle of what I do defend,
Contains things that I will never lend.
It pains me to sing,
The truth, who would ever want to truly be king?
I ruled it all,
Yet my castle would fall.
It came tumbling down in an instant disaster,
Chaos and misery is the master.
Follow in my steps and you will be evanesced,
Be warned through my knowingness.
I am dead and very far gone,
But you have only woken up on my beautiful and fading dawn.
Fenris Storm (aka Steven A. Monserrate)
2.)
I’m here, New Orleans, jazz capitol of the world.
The saxes blarin’
The trumpets shouting,
The familiar sounds of the drums twisted around,
Making a smooth steady beat that is sent to the wall and rebound.
There’s not a singer,
Thenceforth no focus, no king.
We all wear suits and ties,
Classy music, and we’re classy guys.
Cool cats relax here,
Letting time pass like a flaming sear.
Guns are left outside,
It’s not the place where the mob resides.
Tommy guns are near sure,
But we’re in New Orleans, the Jazz culture’s core.
Let the music take you away,
Jazz of the 1920’s lives on today.
-Fenris Storm (aka Steven A. Monserrate)
3.)
Poem from WO3 3: THE KING OF THE SHADOWS
Sleep was inviting, comforting even.
In my dreams I do not weep,
In my dreams I can only think of the deep,
In my dreams I hear a steady, musical beat,
In my dreams I run tirelessly on my feet,
In my dreams I feel the sun’s heat,
In my dreams I find new people to meet,
In my dreams I walk among fields of wheat,
Such beauty, I could only weep.
-Fenris Storm (aka Steven A. Monserrate)
4.)
My name is unknown, my mission is unclear. I am a sniper.
You won’t see me if I don’t see you.
Don’t worry, you won’t feel anything painful if I do.
But you’ll know that I’m watching eyes tracking my prey.
Don’t cause trouble, it would only make my day.
In the rain, shine, night or day,
Those who mess with me have a price to pay.
I don’t want war,
Peace is fine by me,
Just realize and take heed, it’s going to be you that I see.
I watch from a distance, completely unseen,
In plain sight or behind a tree, so you’ll probably call me a fiend.
Just know that I’m the best at what I do,
And once again, just so you know, I’ve got my eyes on you.
-Steven A. Monserrate
5.)
Deep Sea Secrets
Chambers of the deep,
So incredibly dark and steep.
It’s hard to see anything in this dark ocean tide,
There’s no place we can hide.
It’s cold in here, that much we can know,
Almost as if we’re slowly drowning in the snow.
Fish, sharks, creatures in the water,
They are the sea’s prized daughters.
It’s a whole new world, so much to discover,
A hidden asylum where it hides its lover.
We see it on the surface, when it’s angry or when it’s sad,
We can feel it as it kisses the sand.
But it is we on land,
Who have yet to understand,
The hidden heart, completely untouched by my hands.
This is the secret that the ocean holds dear,
The hidden love that we see as surrounded by fear.
-Steven A. Monserrate
The four seasons
Four corners
Four winds
Four mourners.
One for each season
They change every year
Now they are gone
But once they were here.
Someone remembers
But no one forgets
Natures betrayal
She feels no regret.
When I wear my forever lazy
It simply drives the women crazy
It has comfort and class all in one
If one would ask me to throw it out, it simply wouldn’t be done
To me my forever lazy is very dear,
and I will wear year after year
–anonymous
Oh how I love my fold
Storing quarters in my fold will never get old
My fold is stuck on my ear
And it will be there year after year
Oh how I love my fold
–anonymous
My sport is football
It is what I do all year
I play in the Fall
And the end zone is what I try to get near
–anonymous
A revolving door.
Spin yourself into my world.
The steady clatter of the vents sounding.
The dim red light, a tour guide.
A faucet streaming water,
waiting to free the paper of chemicals.
A tub of chemicals, in a row.
An enlarger, ready to take a negative..
and make it positive.
Light sensitive paper, pierced by light..
An image dormant, but ready to emerge.
A dunk in the developer, before it becomes alive.
Growing, changing, moving.
An image becomes distinct,
the process stills.
A quick dip in the stopbath,
and a bath in the fixer.
Into the cold water, to rinse any chemicals.
Back to the door, a single spin and you’re out.
Into the noise.
Into the light.
Its a temporary heaven, the darkroom.
But one spin, and your back.
–anonymous
BANG! Goes the gun.
Shooting the bad guys, all for fun.
I will not go to bed.
Until every one of them is dead.
–Jake Weiler
I like to wear sweatpants so I’m not grumpy.
And in the meantime, they’re rather comfy.
So if you hate, I don’t care.
They’re just soft and nice to wear!
–Jake Weiler
I play Call of Duty everyday
They say I’m the best so they say
Every now and then I play a little GTA
Fast cars and guns that the gangsta life and its cray
Play video games everyday!
–Ean Renshaw
I listen to the good old junk
Like rock, metal, grunge, and punk.
I don’t care if it’s outdated.
I listen to The Ramones and my friends say they hate it.
But I don’t care I wanna be sedated.
–Kyle Warfel
My large amount of snowboard stuff shows I greatly enjoy the activity.
When I’m riding I am overly happy.
The season of winter is my favorite,
even though some may hate it.
Anything related to snow or snowboarding is just great.
–anonymous
Oh my drum kit how I love it so.
It lets my love for music show.
I couldn’t live without all the kinds of music.
If they were missing I would feel sick.
–anonymous
football is what I love to do
football is like a full time job
football s a commitment
football is one thing I have a passion for
–Colby Doman
Running for a while, nonstop
Breathing getting heavy, don’t want to fall and drop
Mind on one goal, the only focus I need
The one objective is to gain the lead
This is a way of life
–Nicholas Hagelgans
My shoes represent how I scooter
I’m already good at it, I don’t need a tutor
They’re torn up and ugly from when I skate
The grip tape rips them apart, lacerate
–Joseph Gundel
Fast and strong,
Firebirds the name.
I can’t make this rhyme,
so yeah that’s me.
–Paul Woolery