2ndYear pieces 2004-2005

2nd Year Pieces
2004-2005

The Maze

by Kirsten Wiking

An endless tunnel coils
through my head.
The clockwork of my brain
ticks as shiny new thoughts enter.
My mind begins to hum
with satisfaction --
new ideas to manipulate
appear from the surface world.
A conveyer belt
of inspirations
proceeds, awaiting organization
under my blond tresses.
Occasionally, a faded memory;
a lonely teardrop in time
is recalled. It bursts into
my thoughts like a burglar entering a house.
Everything from that isolated moment
is brought to my attention.
My brain is flooded
with that memory:
a bizarre two-dimensional world,
where nothing but itself exists.
My five senses are saturated in
that solitary instant.
Snap! The familiar wavelengths
of my name echo through deep canyons
of my skull, flashing me
out of my head and back
toward society's idea of
"real".

That¹s who I am

by Jamie Valle

Five foot six,
complimented by dark brown, sinuous
hair. Deep blue eyes glint
under lazy, worn
lashes. A veteran at smelling, my wide nose
prominently dominates my face.
A husky, broad body; muscular calves and wide feet
are the source of my athletic achievements; my pride.
Thirteen, hurrying to get school work
done as a commuter rushes to catch his plane.
Flooded with stress, striving to
do my best. At the center
a wide smile gleams, plated
with metal braces.

Ending Lives

by Jamie Valle

A piercing bullet bursts through pine trees
racing towards oncoming enemies:
a photo finish.
Who prevails:
bullet or man?

Weary soldiers run towards a nearby forest
as saliva drips from mouths; sweet freedom nears.
Pine fragrance envelopes soldiers entering refuge.
Singing with joy, the bullet slices brisk air,
on the hunt, ready for fresh blood.
Nearing a running man, it approaches with fury.
The company immediately drops
to firm ground.

A whistle heard overhead
means life is spared.
The projectile speeds along
toward another patch of pines.
Splinters fly. Lodging in rough bark,
the bullet's life is spent as
its master slumps to
a hard grave, laden with lead.

The Great Battle

by Jordan Sussi

With capes raised, enraged, the bloody
cocks glare at each other,
exhausted from combat,
their last bit of energy allowing them to vault,
slashing fiercely with sharp, long spurs.
Blood spews from gashed throats.
White, crimson, cocks fall,
face down, side by side,
no longer alive:
Dark red fluid drains from torn, feathered throats.

Descent

by Forrest Reiling

A lone raindrop falls from godly heights.
It whistles in anticipation,
as its long journey downward begins.
Rapid decent accelerates, like a racer
after the gun. The drop
is the first of its kind;
the harbinger of a storm.
A target approaches like hellhounds,
like the end of life,
descending without control.
Tyranny of gravity governs drops' every
movement without escape,
no chance of rebellion;
still there is ho-
"plop".

Destruction

by Kathryn Pope

Dazzling lightening blazes across blustering sky.
A deep rumbling announces the unwelcome
arrival of rain; torrents of water strike sodden ground.
Small rodents scurry for cover,
frantic to escape nature's wrath.
Dark foreboding waters
beat relentlessly against shores, unwilling
to be restrained. Chaos
envelopes this imposing scene.

Raccoons

by Cameron Charles

It is a sunny day in late May. My dad, Cory, and I drive into our driveway, weary from a long trip. As we unpack our gear, we hear two raccoons fighting in a pine-tree. Before we know it, they begin falling from tree-limb to tree-limb, until finally they plunge to the earth.

Alarmed, my dad instructs me to get the twenty-gauge shotgun. I bolt into my house and snatch it from the safe. During this time, one of the snickering raccoons is climbing up a different pine-tree. It notices my presence and stares at me with huge, beady eyes.

I pull the gun to my quivering shoulder and squeeze the trigger. The stalk of the gun throws back my shoulder as the limp raccoon tumbles out of the towering tree. I run up to the lifeless corpse and gaze at its limp body lying in the cool grass. I look around for the other raccoon, but it has escaped.

I begin to feel bad for the dead raccoon, but I did what needed to be done. Ever since that day, we have not had and trouble with raccoons.

Crystal Rain

by Kirsten Wiking

Crème-colored branches
and wet leaves
surround me. The smell of rotting logs
and damp fur lingers.
Plump rain droplets
drench the whole wood: eyes
pouring over an intriguing novel, a
melancholy mood.
One more step and Secret Lake
appears.

Farewell

by Kathryn Pope

Sadness weighs heavily upon still air,
a blanket of fog over somber scenes. Obscure
black-cloaked figures cluster around
the open grave, staring vacantly
into infinite depths. The monotonous
droning of a preacher's voice drags the mourners into a melancholy trance.
Rays of sunlight alight upon the small party,
failing to penetrate that overwhelming agony consuming
the spirits of all present.

Boiling Beaches

by Emily Mulnick

Sand flows between my toes.
Waves splash the shore, soaking my feet
as though someone with really bad aim
were spraying me with a hose.
Sweat drenches my face;
the sun's rays beat harshly: an abusive husband punching
his wife, who might collapse under the force.
The heat overtakes me;
I sit down, feeling dizzy.
Growling like a lion, my stomach tells me
it's time for lunch. Relaxing, and starting on a cheese sandwich, and chips.
I swallow, letting the food
nourish my stomach.
Palm trees sway; a light breeze
brushes the scorching beach.

Ease

by Katie McDaniel

My feet slide into soothing velvety blankets,
feeling relaxed and ready for rest.
Every aching and tender muscle
is keen to lie down.
After a day of grueling Nordic practice,
my neck and head about to collapse, I
slink into my cozy supple pillow like a worm.
My quads and hamstrings are cross and annoyed
at my coach for dragging them up four more hills.
They sink into a gentle mattress: the day's work forgotten,
the feeling of relaxation floods my body, easing every pain.
My brain settles into a meditative state.
I leisurely drift toward deep sleep.
What would I do without
my bed?

Joy

by Jamie Valle

On dark nights, a round white moon rises high;
snow falls gleaming in luminous moonlight.
Like sprinkling salt, snow descends,
a flurry of white.

I am compelled to go out and
lie in the absorbent
sea of monotony.

My face dampens as
more snow tumbles down an overcast sky,
settling upon my chilled nose.

The world is silenced;
I am humbled and relaxed under
sweet tranquil skies of falling
snow.

Earthquakes

by Forrest Reiling

A water glass stands alone.
Ripples course energetically
as it rattles on the counter.
Angrily, pots and pans clang;
earth vibrates.
A fissure snakes to a car like an enraged viper,
swallowing the automobile whole.
Buildings are reduced to matchsticks
in an instant. Human structures resemble
card houses in the midst
of a rampaging sledgehammer.
Cities disintegrate to rubble.
All is quiet. Ripples recede
from the water glass, that stands
alone.

Fire Theater

by Kirsten Wiking

Long shadows
of tall dead trees
stretch across fallen branches and
unhealthy grass.
Slowly
the air thickens, intensifying
all feeling. Jolts of fiery hot lightning
catapult through midnight sky,
striking hapless pines.
Everything combusts
in crimson flame. All life is
trapped in a
flaming cage of doom.

Frosty Trek

by Emily Mulnick

Brittle snow crunches under
each step. Fingers tingle with bitter cold.
Blowing hot air into my winter gloves,
warmth spreads into numb hands.
Exhaling small clouds of
white smoke, I breathe;
light wind
blows through the passageway; chilly, and crisp.
Dull light, like a bulb sputtering, reveals
the end of the forest,
hope that there will be a town.
Walking into the clearing,
I gaze around and find myself staring at
more snow.

Weekend Habits

by Cameron Charles

Saturday morning,
opening my eyes, I rush out of bed,
like a bunny excitedly scurries about.
Being lazy, I ask my older brother, Clay,
to make me breakfast. He prepares delicious,
fluffy pancakes that melt in my mouth
as I try to chew on them.
Afterwards, I relax on my enormous comfy couch
with my dad and older brother watching college football. Without
thinking, I turn the channel to a different game.
The game is very awkward;
the referees have made a bad call, the fans are booing,
the coaches yell from the sidelines.
We begin to laugh at the television
surprise.

Loneliness

by Kathryn Pope

Hot, arid wind whips
across barren landscape. No living
creature in sight; heat of afternoon sun
bleaches vacant expanses.
A lonely silence consumes the empty scene, uninterrupted
by welcome signs of activity.

Turbulence

by Kirsten Wiking

Ladies and Gentlemen, please prepare for take off.

It is common knowledge that airplane crashes most commonly happen during take-off and landing. I frantically search the cabin to see if any of the other passengers are as uneasy as I am with this thought. The cool monotone voice continues: Please open your emergency pamphlet and direct your attention to the front of the cabin. My assistant Tammy will walk you through the emergency procedures. Tammy is a middle-aged woman with frizzy blond hair and a pearly smile. It is a baffling idea that she will be the one to save us in the event of a plane crash.

I snap open the Emergency Guide and begin to meticulously read the information. Why is it that, in all airplane Emergency pamphlets, the cartoon passengers look so calm? They've just been through a mid-air collision, yet they all have serene faces and cheery smiles. The plane has just begun speeding up on the runway and my body prepares for the worst. My feet are planted in the floor space in front of me; my clammy fingers grip onto the armrests. The plane successfully takes off, and does not crash, yet.

Tammy now begins to come around with drinks and refreshments. I order a small cup of water and a bag of extra-salty complementary peanuts. The man next to me orders a V8 Juice. Then, almost as quickly as he had received it, it is spilt on his L.L. Bean Sweater-Vest. He begins to maliciously spit out swear words. All the mothers on the plane start to glare at him, and then switch their gaze to me, assuming I'm his daughter and wondering why I don't shut him up.

A decision is made to hide. I hastily walk into the bathroom and lock the door. Inside the lavatory, it smells like Mr. Clean Economy Size Cleanser and Ajax. My mind begins to drift in and out of the events that took place before the plane ride: the horrible cab driver who let out a mortifying smokers-wheeze every thirty seconds; the snide woman who checked in my luggage; the tedious metal detector which I had to go through four times, due to a metal belt buckle.

A sharp jolt forces me back into the present. My head is hurled into the bathroom mirror, leaving a plum-colored bump on my forehead. Ladies and gentlemen please fasten your seat belts, immediately! We will momentarily be experiencing turbulence!The cool voice has now become the loud, panicked voice. All my fears once again flood my mind. A ruthless push catapults me backward, stuffing my elbow into a pale blue trashcan. My eyes urgently hunt for an emergency seatbelt. Instead, I grasp onto the paper towel dispenser, praying for dear life. A few more small heaves; the turbulence has momentarily ended. My body slowly begins to relax and expel a heavy sigh of relief. The door once more begins to violently shake. My hands clutch the towel dispenser and I think, oh no, not again!

"Get out of there, what is taking you so long?" says a raspy, high-pitched voice. I clumsily open the door and the same man, who was moments ago cursing the stain on his shirt, is now pushing me out of the way and marching into the bathroom. The stain is now a few shades lighter but quite a bit larger. I scamper back to my seat and reach for a sip of water, but all of it is gone. Mr. Sweater Vest must have decided to use my water to dilute the stain on his shirt. He returns to notice me looking at my empty water cup and lets out a small snort of amusement, with no apology. I suddenly feel bad for Tammy the stewardess, having to deal with ignorant, cruel people and never being able to let her pearly pink-lipstick smile drop.

The tranquil voice makes a new announcement: Ladies and Gentlemen, please be sure that your seats and tray tables are in their locked and upright positions while we prepare for landing. As the plane makes its final decent, I don't even think about the plane crashing or about the possibility that I may be on the wrong plane or in the wrong country. These thoughts never cross my mind. All that I can think about is going home.

See 2003-2004 1st Year pieces by clicking HERE

See 2002-2003 2nd Year pieces by clicking HERE

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