HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
by PAULA
Have you ever been
sick
and tired
of being tired?
and sick with worry?
trying to please the world saying “please” for things I should already have.
But what can I do but laugh it off… when it feels to hard,
I shuffle
the cards and deal again
can’t always explain my feelings,
instead,
I drive away. Shoulda’
dealt with ’em
even though it felt like quicksand.
Gotta stick it to the man!
and get up everyday, get
ready.
Tie my shoes,
not much else to do… liven’ in a dreamland.
SLAP-IN-TIME
by SIERRA
In 2014 I brought home a bad report card. It had all F’s, but I was very proud. When I got home I showed my mother, her face turned red like an apple. She went into the storage room and she grabbed two metal pans, she said these words…
“congrats”
Then she hit the crap out of me…I woke up in 2022. I am now 21 and have two kids named Genesis and Junior. Their daddy’s name is J.J Daniels, he plays for the Seattle Seahawks. We have been married since 2019. We live in L.A. I am now a singer, I am the new Beyoncé but I am much better. My life is perfect, I got the best husband ever he loves me and he treats me right. I love him. My kids, they are devil-angels. Genesis is an awesome basketball player. Junior is a singer. I wish I could go back in time, but I don’t so I say LIVE YOUR LIFE.
SILENCE
by JAMMONICA
My roars to you are silent. Why?
I don’t know, maybe you didn’t want to hear it loud and clear.
Enough to understand but….how you hear?
You understand them, but that is not louder than my silence.
You can’t hear my roar but you can hear my cries.
It’s silent, no sound, no nothing.
But my roar was louder than any rock concerts.
But, how are my roars louder than my silences?
My cries speak louder than my sins.
TIME TRAVELING
by KATRINA
Dear Grandma,
Recently I’ve been missing you. I’ve been thinking of all the memories we shared. I go back. I go back before your death when I was 6. I thought that I would never lose you. I though that I would always hear you yell at me for doing stupid things. I thought that you would always be here and sit me on your lap as you rocked in your chair and sang to me. I never thought that he would take you away from me. I know that you are in a better place of no suffering but I’m still selfish. I didn’t want you to go. I want you here. I’m still selfish. I don’t care if you are sick, just as long as you are here with me. I know that’s cruel but I’m being honest. I miss your warm hugs. I miss your soft lips on my forehead. I miss you telling me everything will be alright. I feel like there is no more hope in the world without you. I feel like you were the only light in this darkness. You left and are now in Heaven while I’m living in this hell. That’s not fair. I want to be with you or you to be with me. I miss you, Grandma. Words cannot even describe the sadness I felt when I was told you had died. You always taught me to be strong, but I’m not sure if I can anymore. I wanna fall on the floor and throw a fit and get what I want. I’m tired. I’m tired. I’m tired of being without you. I tell my mom but all she says is you are here in my heart. I don’t want you there. I want you here with me and honestly I don’t care if you were God’s before mine. You are my Grandma and God can go find someone else to keep him company. My wants right now are above his, and right now I want you here with me. I love and miss you Grandma. ONly you can fill the hole in my heart.
COLORS OF MY DAY
by KATRINA
5:00 am is RED, the alarm clock is annoying.
My shower is BLUE, the water is liquid happiness.
My bus is BLACK, it takes me to hell.
My school is BROWN, it’s plain and a waste of time.
My bus is now YELLOW, it now offers me excitement.
My home is PURPLE, it makes me happy.
My bed is ORANGE, it is the awesomest thing ever.
My family is a RAINBOW, it is good and bad.
My life is HOT PINK, it is perfect.
Math is BLUE, I don’t know why, it just is.
Science is BLACK, I don’t like that class.
English is YELLOW, it’s in between colors.
Social Studies is RED, it’s an inch above science.
Orchestra is ORANGE, it’s the best class ever.
Computer Tech is PURPLE, it’s a pretty fun class.
CPIE is BROWN, it’s boring and dumb.
Success is PINK, it’s my break time.
WHO WE ARE
Exclusive Ink is Shortridge High School's dynamic creative writing group. This is the place for our work to glow.WHAT WE DO
We write poems, short stories, essays, and whatever us inspires us. We share our work aloud and support each other.WHY WE WRITE
Because it's freedom. Because it's fun.