by TYLYN

Once, a girl lived in a lovely little town. People drove here and there, walked hitherto, sat around. Work was done, children were learned, and babies were made. People married, fought, and lived and died; for themselves and each other. But occasionally in the town, an occurrence came to be accepted by the residents, attracting few tourists.

A town’s secret, though it isn’t concealed all that well, or really at all.

The girl had been out for a stroll around her neighborhood when she felt her toes get a bit wet. She figured that she had just stepped into a little puddle and kept on going. The sun continued to shine. She was walking up a newly paved driveway when her big sister told her to remove her sandals.

“But we’re not at grandpa’s. Why?”

“Look at your feet.” When the girl saw her feet, she squealed. “Why is it red and thick and icky and…?!”

“Shut up. Calm down,” her sister ordered, “It’s just blood. Have you never seen it?’ The girl fumed.

“What do you mean by that? I’ve been with blood on my feet for HOURS.”

“It happens all the time lil sis. The mayor had that tested years ago because we all  thought it was just oil. I don’t know how many people thought they had struck it rich. The greedy bastards…”

“Ewewew! Still gross!” The girl whined. Her elder sister went inside the house for some few moments before returning with a wet rag. She lobbed it to the girl, who sighed her gratitude and sat down to wipe away the blood on her feet. The sister grabbed a hose and turned it on. Water spurted to a powerful flow. She aimed it at the now-sullied driveway, smearing away blood as if it were ink on paper. She cleared her throat.

“As I was saying, the results of the test revealed it to be human blood. But they couldn’t match it to anyone. I’ve never seen so many people pale,” she laughed, “They so deserved it.” Having finally calmed down, the girl listened intently.

“Then, why did it start happening?”

“Nobody really knows. I like thinking that it’s supposed to be a reminder of the consequences of the human race’s pointless desire for bloodshed. After all, it happens randomly, and most of us have come to accept it, give or take a few nut jobs.”

“Well, what did the scientists think about it?”

“If memory serves well, they think it’s somethin’ like an overflow of blood in the ground.

Like it’s a sponge or somethin’.” “Wow.”

“Yep, the things you know. Now go and get some soap because this mess isn’t cleanin’ itself up. You made it,” the big sister said, dropping the hose, “It’s on you to deal with it.”

“Hey!”

“I don’t care.” While the girl scrambled after her sister, the hose kept on spewing water down the slope, now painting the crimson sketch of a mountainscape. And at its base rested a pool of blood swimming in water, a leaf floating on top.

by AJANI

Fluff as white as clouds
Hands a sharp as swords
Homes as cold as a butcher’s freezer
Mouths of grinders
However, they have
Embrace as warm as an oven
Or a guardian as strong as an angel
Try not to mess with the younger ones
For there will surely be a “larger” punishment
Their job to kill and care
They do it well
These warm-hearted
Cold-enduring creatures
Are beautiful

by AMARIS

I spy with my little eye
Someone who’s dark-toned
Someone who’s big in size
Someone who’s medium height

Someone who’s intelligent
Someone who’s beautiful
Someone who’s witty
Someone who’s caring

Someone who’s successful
Someone who’s a princess
Someone who is soon to be a queen
I spy Amaris

by ALTON

The moon beamed through my window as I turned the car off. I sat there. The familiar void was coming to my body. It’s about 3:25 in the morning. Man, I hate restless nights. I look outside. The house has no lights on. She’s asleep but not in my arms. I hit my steering wheel. Dammit. You make this so hard. I reach in my glove compartment to grab the shoe. There wasn’t a scratch, or scuff. I curse the heavens and pretend to get out the car. Who am I kidding. I’m not a man. I’m weak. My mechanism is to grab whatever I can and chug it till it’s empty. I take one last look as I inhale for a deep breath. Then, I turn on my car to leave. As I speed I notice her bedroom light cut on, as she was hugged by another man. I’ll give you your shoe one day Cinderella.

by JAROD

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is the best
It’s sweet and good and great
For nothing comes close
And I could eat it early or late

The sweet, sugary taste is amazing
The taste stays in my head
The color is bright and stands out
Like water that has a clump of lead

This cake is super good
The pineapple is the best
When I try any other cake
It doesn’t come to the test

by AJANI

Guys who think the world molds in their hands,
Unsatisfied beings who don’t care who dies.
None will hear
Men whose money matters more
As everyone just walks by, just another crime, just another evil mind.
None will take action.

This is going to be funny…just another blown up story for the media to report upon and make more money.
Viewers who won’t see two sides of a story before making judgements.
Humans whose words are spoken through a weapon.
Let’s hear what the victims say, and AFTER have a debate.
Then let’s hear HIS story.

by JAYLEN

Begins with the start of life,
Centered around this one person,
Defining them as life goes on—
Everything being turned upside down.
First looking at the faces of death
Gearing up for war to come next,
Hiding in the shadows of people,
Igniting the fiery flames that
Jump at him, trying to
Kill him swiftly and quietly. The devil
Laughing at him while he’s running away. His
Mom wonders if he’s coming home.
“No,” the devil says laughing in her face.
Only one person can stop him,
Preferably his father as he tiptoes
Quietly through the halls of the
Restaurant, smelling all of the food then heading to the
School to devour other souls.
Then a light shines, taking away the shadows
Under the desk. He waits to
Verify the being in the room with him.
Without knowing anything he sprints at the being gets an
X-ray of his body to send to the
Zoo where he resides in the zebra exhibits.

by ALI

“…hold up, all good, a week ago, crew Party on the radio, favorite song, made me bounce, I don’t know, I won’t be here long…” – Headphones on, bounce around, cleaning, singing, hear my name. Slip into parks, and glance in the hallway, it’s empty but packed. Just moved in, neighbors loud 24/7. Got to get it out. Little brother, no where. Lace my way through boxes, furniture. Look around the corner. Still no where.” Mum,” no response. Phone vibrates. Balance down. Mum took brother down to the park with friends. I’m alone. Telly’s on, singing alone, can’t recall which song. On the bus, “Homecoming. Go.” “No,” he said. “Give me my stuff,” he countered. “Homecoming. Go.” He reaches, I curl up on the object, as if clinging for dear life. “Give me my stuff.” He grabs for it, then pulls me close to him. “I’ll kiss you,” he threatens. I look towards the window, otherwise, ignoring him. I’m slightly scared. I’m a fox in sheep’s clothing. Though I forget it’s just a costume, and it becomes my skin. I look around. No one seems to notice. He kisses me. I fall, so hard towards the ground, and give in. “No matter what you say or what you do, when I’m alone I’d rather be with you….I’ll be right by your side till 3005…”

by TYLYN

There was once just I,
One who was blind, who was
Sightless to that which is pure.
In my folly, I searched for that of
The damned, with nary a soul…
If only ye would hear I,
The one who was…

by CHRISTIAN

Deceit
Planting false memories
With roots that go
Six feet deep
Till it’s permanently in your brain
With tall trees preaching
The word of god
And weeds holding you from going tall
So it’s only a matter of time
Before you fall
I try to reach the sunlight
Before the night to help myself
But always get pulled back
Into the shadows
Need water to survive
Last person to nurture me
Gets fueled by anger as if
Consumed some type of steroid
He breaks free
Clear to grow without a weed
No rope to latch back down
I can finally feel the sun
Again beaming at me
He must be happy
With my freedom
Look a tree
Growing taller than all the trees
I’ll write a poem and call it
The Life of an Evergreen