by ALTON

Scooby, I don’t wanna do this.
I used to love you but I grew up too quick.
When I was alone you had my back.
Your show was trash but you made up for it with your snacks.
I was there for you when your eyes were filled with tears.
I know it’s my fault because I left you after many years.
But let’s reminisce about the times I had you with my lunch.
The hard sweet texture, the graham cracker crunch.
Those were the days, eating as your theme song played.
But those days…those days are over. I have moved on.
Yet your snacks are still great, yes I’m a fan.
Because it’s no mystery with those snacks
and that green van.

by ZIV

“You need to be more social,” my mom said. “It will help you later in life.”

“You should go to the dance tomorrow,” dad said.

“Why? Homecoming is a minefield for teenage emotion. One wrong step and Boom!”

They look at me like I’m a ship in the distance at night. “You will regret not going,” said mom.

“That’s what all my friends say,” I responded, “but who cares if I go?

“Your friends will,” dad said.

“My friends barely notice me anyway.”

“That’s not true,” my mom pipes in.

“Sadly it is.” I got up from the dinner table. “I am not going.” I went upstairs to finish my homework. I felt lost as I finished, I had no one to share my feelings with. It only got worse.

by ISAAC  

Oh chocolate oreo
cookie encasing a minty core,
they stocked you in the store, you know.
Now I know what life is for.

They kept you in a big glass jar.
They tried to keep me far,
but I quickly ran up,
poured some milk in a cup.

A cookie like caviar.

by LYNAE

This neighborhood, as it exists in 2017, is a little ghetto but we’re on the come up. Due to this gentrification of ethnic neighborhoods, the neighborhood has been given a nice renovated park and a new basketball court. The rest of the hood is still pretty eh… but the park is nice. The people there are artsy, intelligent even.

Now let’s move on to the contents.

Item No. 1: a photograph of DJ Khaled, arguably one of the most influential figures of 2017. You Da Best!

Item No. 2: Tyler The Creator’s Flower Boy. It’s a classic. 2017 is nothing without it.

Item No. 3: A fidget spinner. Now I do not completely agree with the existence of this, but it has earned its spot.

Item No. 4: Italian bread and olive oil. It’s probably not edible for you anymore, but know it was phenomenal.

Item No. 5: This is the most important one of all. A pair of Balmain’s. So you can be the clout god of 2117.

Now that you have all of these items in your possession, cherish them. Change the world, kid.

by BREE

A word is written
By people who
Conspire with old
Dead people’s lives,
Even unimportant
Foolish people.
George Washington
Had words to help
Inspire America.
Just sitting, writing,
Kicking, screaming, shouting.
Laughing at the fact that
Man still has not accomplished much
Now or even then.
Overall, I’m trying to say
People use their intelligence
Quickly, it’s coming to an end.
Risking all that was
Said, I really like
To talk, but
Understand I’m almost done
Venerating my Poem.
When I finish, I’ll ask
You, “Did you like my
Zounds about a word…”

by JAROD

She fills me with such joy
And always in my mind
Can’t get her out of my head
Constantly inside

She’s cute and funny
Her face stays in my head
And when I think of her
My face goes red

When she’s in my head
She makes me happy
And when she’s in my head
I never feel crappy

When it comes to height
She’s tall or small
But when it comes to me
She’s not close to all

by KENY

Each month that nostalgic time comes
After weeks of growing, evolving and developing
After weeks of greeting and stealing glances
Sweet sights and envious, salty stares
Critics attacking from every corner
Judging with every chance they obtain
All that work
Just to impress once a month
It’s hard…
But yet again I shall salute
The horrors of the shiny silver blade
I’ll say my valediction…
Farewell for now but I will rise again

by TYLYN

It starts with an L,
And it’s somthin’ you get lost in…
Leaves you all topsy-turvy.
We humans have known it for centuries,
Though nowadays its old news, old school.
Usually you send it to someone

Damn…
I think they got away with it.
I’m not sure I’ll get it back,
But please…
Help me find it.
I’m not sure if I can reward you,
Though you’ll have my deepest gratitude.

It’s kinda cheap,
but a good one can be worth everything.
After all, I’ve fallen for this one…
There’s a system for it, I think.
But sometimes it’s too little, too late.
I wish I could explain it,
since we’ve all seen it before.

by TYLYN

Anyone searchin’ for someone? A
Body that you can hold onto, real
Close.
Darkness may surround you, but it’ll never
Engulf you like they do.
Fidgetin’ and fallin’ when you let
Go. Oh geez.
How can I feel so pathetic about this?
I am only lookin’ for lone,
Just tryna live in a damn-scary world…
Krazy.
Let’s… Forget about it.
My probelms aren’t yours to hear.
No. No, no, no.
On TV, they’re talkin’ about the world endin’.
Please, I wanna hold onto someone.
Queer as it may be, you can
Rest easy. I won’t disturb ya.
So keep on ignorin’ me,
Things’ll get better eventually…
Unless the fate of this hopeless romantic
Veers off the course and into a ditch.
Well… I’ll hope for an
Extra hand, a lover, another half of me, someone.
You don’t know what it’s like, this craving.
Zealously in-love, you two are. So I’ll keep on playin’ third wheel.

by TYLYN

Mere moments ago,
It seemed,
I had been made a witness.
‘Twas a grand experience by the water.
Fishing for celandine poppies
In the bushes by a dried-up sea,
I fell into a, for lack of better word
A kiaugh.
Boat hooks had latched onto my sleeve,
I’m not really sure how.
But when I realized it,
The vessel was already leavin’ ripples.
My feet planted, I called out.

A friend heard my cry and sighed
“Unhook yourself, fam.”
“If I could, I would. Now HELP ME.”
They wrapped around me and pulled.
Together, it wasn’t long before my sleeve tore,
And I found myself falling into them with a whirl.
Somehow, I tasted spices.
Warming, exciting, confusing. ‘Twas unforgettable.
And soft too. When I looked them in their
Eyes, they were glazed over.

Like I said,
I witnessed somethin’ grand.
Somethin’ I’d never leave behind,
Which is a first for me.
But now,
I have questions…
Which leave me on my own.