January Poetry:

Hayden
by Briallen
Age 17

I'll shed a tear
4 every day
I'd smile just 4
The words you'd say
I'll think of you
Every time i try
And wonder why
You had 2 die
Why couldn't they
Have taken me
And spared your life
So you could see
So you could know
What i would do
And you could see
i'd die for you.....

I Miss You Every Day Hayden....

look beyond the colors of the outside
by Angela
Age 16

In this whole beautiful world of God’s creation
Lives hatred, anger, and frustration
Why does color bring us apart
Why does everyone end up with a broken heart
No matter what they say or do
Stripes and spots are always two
Why can’t we learn to love one another
Why can’t we all be sisters and brothers
If the world was so perfect as everyone sees
How come they cant sees the likes between them, you, and me
Why do they criticize, fanaticize, and fill the world with stupid lies If only we could open up ours eyes and understand Then we can be the same if we hold each other’s hands Walk through the water, fire, and land Then realize how Jesus stood up and chose not to ran He gave us our freedom, peace, and hope Now all we have to do is learn to like each other and climb the rope Come together and close your eyes Like Ray Charles did rise, rise, rise To the top of the mountain where no colors are seen Where all the hatred and fight are gone even the mean Everything is so beautiful just feel around Like a soft humming bird what a beautiful sound Don’t look at the color of my skin Look at our fingers we each have ten So look beyond my outward appearance Look inside and take a glance I am more than what I seem to be How would you know if you never open your eyes to see I am my own person that what makes me special You need to learn to stop being so superficial So when the world comes to an end and you can finally say That it doesn’t matter what is on the outside but how we are special in our own little way

6th Grade Drama
by Courtney
Age 11

There is always something, rumors every day.
And it seems as if there is,
no time to play.
'Cause your always worrying about learning.
About what people say,
'cause it might just be you,
when you're just looking at the sky so blue.
And they're saying something bad,
that might just make you sad,
or mad.
But as long as you have your friends,
you'll make it through.
To mend those holes, and be there to the very end.
To help you in the night,
and feel that it's alright.
And with those friends you'll make it through.
Through this 6th grade drama.

Who Am I?
by Matt
Age 17

Who am I, what is to be, O God, clear my eyes so I can see What is the purpose of me?

Release me of my problems, and cleanse my soul
So I can see my life’s role.

I guess all I can do is pray
And hope that God has something to say
As I pray on my knees, tell me what purpose I should seize.

I could hide all my fears and doubts in my heart
But God I just want to know what sets me apart
I’m having trouble right now, finding who I am
I guess I shouldn’t care at all or give a damn.

O God, illuminate my path, show me the way
Tell me all the words that I should say.

So many things in this world bring tears to my eyes
Makes my purpose hard to recognize, I know soon things will be okay But right now I’m very vulnerable prey.

Who am I, what is to be, O God, clear my eyes so I can see
What is the purpose of me?

A Friend
by Elaine
Age 10

A friend is somewhat special
Who will always make your day
Someone you can rely on
For each and every way
Supportivity ways a ton
If you trust your friend
there will be no end
Make friends with everyone!

My Sleep
by Snigdha
Age 10

In winter I get up night
And dress by the yellow candle -light
In summer quite the other way I have to go to bed by day

I have to go to bed and see
the birds still hopping on the tree
or hear the grown up people's feet
still going past me down the street

Sway and Whisper
by Ellen
Age 13

The trees sway
the grasses whisper
For who knows so much as them?
Who can better tell of nature?
Who can tell what men don’t picture?
The trees whisper
the grasses sway.
The timid rabbit sniffs the air,
The prairie dog climbs out of his black hole,
the bird flits,
the squirrels all scamper.
The grass moves and parts for the scaly snake;
The prairie dog jumps and dodges,
As the hawk swoops down longing for his prey.
The duck waddles from its hidden nest, headed for the smooth blue lake.The deer stop,
look around,
and then calmly eat the green grass
Fawns play as the twilight glistens
The birds fly down for their goodnight meal
Then,
a footstep, a shot,
the spell is broken
a loss.
The trees sway and the grasses whisper
For who knows so much as them?
They know secrets of all, they know what men can never picture.

Being Me
by Jamie
Age 11

Being Me
Being me is fun
my personality
is just wild and crazy
because of that
my friends and I have
lots of fun
Being Me
Being me is exciting
and that way
people look forward to seeing me
and have lots of fun
being with me
Being Me
Being me is what I do
I control me
not a button
and not anyone else
I do what I
gotta do
not you or you
but I do
Being Me
Being me make me
Happy
I don't have to
impress anyone
as long as I feel good
that's all that matters
so what if she or he don't
like me
as long as I am Happy
and that's why
being me is THE BEST!

Horses in the Hills
by Genevieve
Age 9

Everyday I would gaze upon a horse.
A special horse was she.
It was as if she knew I loved her.
She looked right back at me.
Her mane long and radiant.
Her body, as fast as a cricket.
Sometimes I would even see her,
In the butterfly infested thicket.
She would gallop without getting tired.
But today she came to let me see her.
I pet her slowly, my smile getting wider each time.
And then I heard something most peculiar.
I turned and saw five other horses.
The horse, she trotted right past me.
She trotted to all of her friends.
Then at that moment she looked right at me.
The wind blew, the trees shook.
Then all of those pretty horses looked at me too.
I closed my eyes and then I saw,
All of them, drinking out of the lake the water pure and blue. I remember every moment of that day. There is only one thing that fills, My heart with joy. They are the horses in the hills.

Friends
by Brigitta
Age 10

They're there
And they'll always be
Through good times and bad
I hope you see
That I am yours
And you are mine
And it'll always be we.

A Sister
by Ellen
Age 13

A sister is a person
Who touches you in every way.

A sister is a person
Who knows just what to say.

Who picks you up;
When you fall down.
To cry with;
To laugh with.

A sister is a person
Who helps you day, by day

A sister is a person
Someone with which to play

She may not live to close
Or be related to you
But she is still a sister
In everything you do.

A friend can be a sister
Even when you’re apart
She may not be your sister
But a sister in your heart.

Radio
by Latreese
Age 14

My little Radio
Play me a song
Play all day; till the day is gone
I listen to the beat
Of every verse I hear
Play my song, Radio
when I'm far, or when I'm near
Play my song, Radio
The music I like best
Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B
Beats skillfully upon my chest
Little Radio, don't you see
How much you really mean to me
You make me feel so good and free
My little Radio

Dream
by Kayla
Age 12

i had a dream about you today
about all the sweet things you wanted to say
and that you loved me so very much
is it true
would you say such
you had a dream about me today
may i hear all i had to say
did i love you
did i stay
this is gonna go my way
because its my lucky day

You Might Not
by Chelsea
Age 12

You might not love me
You might not care
But it bothers me the way You stare
How your eyes glisten in the Morning sun
Makes me feel so Darn Dumb
I thought i loved you
I thought i cared
But i remember now it was All just a dare.

The Promised Land
by KC
Age 12

The Promised Land is the place I dream of
A land that is free and I can love.
As I hide, so they can't find
I dream of things that are nice & kind
To stay out of danger & hurt
I sometimes sleep under the dirt
I run and struggle & pray
That I can reach freedom today.
Oh The Promised Land I see
Please take care of me.

The Universe
by Brandi
Age 11

The moon is very bright;
In the middle of the night.
The stars smile down at me;
For I love what I see.
The planets twirl and twist;
The stars gleam and make a fist.
So when the asteroids come down;
Planet Earth wears a crown.

January Short Stories:

Missy's Incredible Journey
by Jessica
Age 11

Once there was a cat named Missy. She was an indoor cat, and she wanted to be able to go outside and see the world.
One day she got outside, and she ran far away. First, she ran all the way out of town.
Once out of town, she walked along the ditch by the side of the road, not knowing where she was going. She saw many cars go by and at first she was scared. But she got used to them and just continued walking whenever they came by. She sometimes found scraps of food and she would examine them before eating them. She finally came to a town. There she found a lot of food in the trash and other places. She was getting skinny, and was glad to eat whatever she got.
She was beginning to miss her family, so she decided to go back. She turned back, but did not know where to go, so she just got out of town and went from there. After 2 months, she finally reached the town she once lived in. She found her home and went up to the door and meowed as loud as she could. They let her in and hugged her and fed her and hugged her more. They were very glad to see her and she was very glad to be home.

Not Sally
by Beth
Age 11

"Oh no!"cried Karena "my dollie's bight pink dress tore." "Not Sally" she thought. Karena is a 6 year old who lives with only her grandfather. She always carries around her dollie Sally with her because her parents gave it to her. Her parents died in a car crash when she was four. Karena then decided to ask her grandfather to fix Sally's dress. Her grandfather used to be a toy maker until he retired. Karena walked into the living room and asked him to fix it. "Grandpa will you please fix Sally's dress now?" said Karena. "Calm down sweetie. It will be easy to fix." replied Grandpa. While Grandpa was sewing and fixing Sally, Karena was hoping she would be alright. When he was finished Karena was so happy. "Oh thank you Grandpa, she is all better."said Karena. "Your welcome Karena. You know Karena every day I will give Sally a check up to make sure she is alright." said Grandpa."That would be great" cried Karena. Everyday since then Grandpa would check to see if Sally was alright.

The Noise In the Kitchen
by Shelby
Age 12

Ever wonder what happens at night when everyone is asleep? Well here's a story to help you out. At night when everyone on my family is asleep all of our appliance come alive. (Weird Huh?)
The appliances love to cook and make things while everyone is asleep. We had no idea about it until one morning we woke up and found our entire kitchen destroyed. My mom was shocked. She thought that someone had broken in. While she was talking to the police I was cleaning. I noticed that there was no forced entry and that nothing was broken or stolen. I knew nobody had broken in and I was going to prove it.
That night, I was ready. I crept slowly downstairs trying not to wake up anyone. I knew that if I got caught I would be in big trouble. When I came to the kitchen I heard little beeping noises like morse code.Floor creaked.I had to be careful. Just my luck, I stepped, it creaked. The beeping stopped. I sat there waiting for something to happen. I took a deep breath and said in a calm quiet voice,
"Who's there?" Nothing happened. So I pressed my luck and tried it again,
"Who's there?" Finally the electric can opener jumped out of the drawer and yelled,
"Will you be quiet! People are trying to have a conversation here."
Now I was shocked. I tried being nice, my mom was planning in using the can opener for dinner tonight. They told me about all the fun adventures that they had. I didn't know that our dog fell asleep at exactly 11:05 every night. I guess you learn something new everyday. The next morning I kept the appliance thing a secret. But I think my mom might have been suspicious when I was winking at the blender.

Rich
by Courtney
Age 11

Jessica was 12 years old and had a mom, dad, and a sister. She was just your typical girl. One day while she was at school she saw one of her best friends wearing a really cute pair of jeans with some fancy jewelry. As usual, she thought. That was Cheryl always showing off her wealth. She had a rich family and could buy anything she would want without having to worry about having a budget. But this time Jessica really liked that pair of Abercrombie jeans that Cheryl was wearing. When Jessica came home she begged her mom to let her have them, but she just said, “ Now honey, you know we can’t afford to buy some expensive jeans, it’s not worth it.” Jessica gave her a look. “Well, maybe you can get them for your birthday or Christmas but just not right now okay. Those jeans cost $50 you know,” sighed her mom. Then Jessica yelled, “ Well, wish we were a RICH family!” “ You are acting very immature young lady. Go straight to your room this instant!”
Jessica was so sad that she cried herself to sleep that night. That night though, she had a very strange dream. In her dream, her family was so rich that she could buy whatever she wanted to. At first, she had a wonderful time shopping with her friends every day until the stores ran out things to sell. Also, she was richer than Cheryl was. Jessica could tell whenever she showed off that Cheryl always would turn green with envy. Ha, finally she gets a piece of her own medicine, thought Jessica. But later on Jessica realized it wasn’t all that. Her family was so busy with work and shopping that she really missed spending time with them. Like, having dinner together or playing games or just sitting down to watch TV together. Even her own mother didn’t even think to ask how school was and didn’t really seem interested in what Jessica was doing, just that she looked perfect and her face wasn’t to dirty. The dream felt so real that it was absolutely unbearable. Jessica was so happy when she woke up to find that it was just a dream and was really thankful that it was a dream. When she had dressed herself and came downstairs she gave her a great big hug and said, “ Mom, I’m sorry that I wished that I wanted to us to be a richer family. I guess I just really wanted those jeans and didn’t think about the family’s budget. ‘Cause I’ve been thinking it over and time with family is far more important than being rich.” “Oh Jessica I’m so proud of you,” said her mom. And the whole family spent the rest of the day talking and cuddling with each other.

A Dark Cold Night
by Shauna
Age 12

As I stood in the kitchen looking out the window, into the dark night, I had the oddest feeling. I knew something was wrong. I could just tell by the way nothing stirred in the night, the way my stomach was all tied up in knots. Something terrible was about to happen.
“Nikki, come on lets watch a movie!” squealed Jennifer looking at me with hopeful eyes. I was babysitter Jennifer and her brother Sean until their mother came back. I walked into the living room while Jennifer jumped up and down trying to hand me the movie. I pushed the tape in. “I’m going to get some popcorn I said to Jennifer and Sean who were snuggled up on the couch.
I went back into the kitchen to get the popcorn. I opened all the cabinets – “Where is the popcorn?” I said to myself. “There it is.” I popped the popcorn in the microwave. The buttery aroma filled the air. Suddenly the door closed.
Swiftly walking back into the room, I looked around. “Where’s Sean?” I asked myself. I saw Jennifer sitting there peacefully watching Lion King. But there was not a glimpse of Sean. “Where’s Sean?” I asked Jennifer sternly. “He said he needed to get something outside.” she said while still glued to the TV.
I ran to the door, opened it and a cold breeze came in. I shivered but not because it was cold. I didn’t see him anywhere. “Sean? Sean? Where are you? Answer me this second! If you think this is a game, it’s not funny! Sean?” I yelled frantically. “Just remain calm. Don’t panic.” I told myself, but it was too late.
I went back inside. “What should I do?” I grabbed my jacket and a flashlight. I couldn’t just leave Jennifer alone. I picked her up, ignoring her cries to watch the rest of the movie.
We went into the cold dark night. “Sean? Sean? Where are you?” I yelled. Something moved over in the woods. I flashed the light over there. Sean was standing near the woods laughing. “You can’t catch me!” he laughed and sprinted into the woods. “Sean, you come over here right now. Don’t make me tell your mother.” I yelled angrily.
I ran into the woods after him. Jennifer began to whine. She was getting too heavy for me to carry. I accidentally dropped the flashlight. Then we entered complete darkness. A cold hand grabbed my shoulder. I screamed mercilessly. I turned to see…