Baby Blues by Kaylyn Walls
Kaylyn Walls
Baby Blues
The ocean in your eyes,
Unsure of what the future lies.
The waiting
The wondering
The wishing
The nurses bring you near
In hopes to ease my fear.
Our eyes finally meet.
That moment is bittersweet.
How could I not love thee?
As we approach the slope,
I begin to hope.
The ocean in your eyes,
Unsure of what the future lies.
The hoping
The heartache
The handicap
Time moves differently now that we are together.
They say, “Baby blues don’t last forever.”
As I look into your eyes,
I wonder if they will remain the color of a summer’s day sky.
You, my darling, my life, and my son, I adore.
My heart is just so sore.
This depression is surrounded with misconception.
I am left to question.
Who can help me?
What is my problem?
When will it end?
Where can I go?
WHY is this happening?
How could I not love thee?
The ocean in your eyes,
Unsure of what the future lies.
The yawning
The yearning
The yesterday
How to Survive by Hannah Streett
Hannah Streett
How to Survive
The lights have gone. Familiar darkness tickles my skin, poking and shoving, trying to find my weaknesses. But I don’t have any. I don’t want to have any. I am comfortable with the darkness now because that is the only way to survive in this world. As invisible minutes tick past though, sparks jump around within me, causing my limbs to twitch and my gaze to dart hopelessly through the night. No. This is fine. I’m all right with this, remember? They die down, flickering into oblivion, and I relax. This is normal, after all. Why should I feel uncomfortable in my life? There must be an excellent reason hidden within me because just moments later, a remaining, unnoticed spark flares up again and rockets through my body, stronger than before. I stagger backward. A strangled cry stabs my ears. Is that from me? I collapse against the wall, curling up and slamming my hands into the sides of my head. That will make the voices shut up, right? Because for that second, I remember. I remember that I am a horrible person doing horrible things and all I want to do is go back to my ignorance like I have a thousand times before. But this time, the thoughts won’t stay contained. They bounce around my skull in a furious cacophony, berating me for the lies I’ve told, the people I’ve killed. I wish someone would put me out of my misery. But as I scream again, a pinprick of light flickers across my vision and a hand, strong and sure, grips mine. I shrink back. I won’t let anyone help me. I don’t deserve to live unless I can do it on my own. But the hand follows, refusing to let me go. And although I’m trembling, it pulls me back onto my feet.
Ernie by Sally Hoopengardner
Liquefy by Stephanie Glover
Stephanie Glover
Liquefy
For her each day dissolves into the next, like a sugar cube in hot water. Instinctively she clings, grabs, and clutches to the remains of her earlier self. Memories assemble in a dense haze of déjà vu. Little-by-little, piece-by-piece, and bit-by-bit she forfeits what made her sweet and solid. She dissipates.
Owl by Stephanie Eberly
High School and College by George Hypolite
George Hypolite
High School and College
They say high school days were the best
Those were the days when fights were crazy and everything was a mess
Days filled with jokes and forgotten tests
High school days were carefree and void of stress.
We’d go home with thoughts of doing that homework we got in class
But as we walked in the house our thoughts were filled with other tasks
Lost in a world of fun we said we’d do that homework last
Procrastination had no match
Then like a load of bricks it hits you in that college class you hate
Sighing you wonder if this was a mistake
Then the professor says test time as if he’s gone insane
Every college day makes you use your brain
Having You by Christy McElroy
Christy McElroy
Having You
As morning came on that day
And early risers began to stir,
I could feel you; you were on your way,
And with pain, my eyes began to blur.
We flew to the doctor in a hurry,
Taking the things we needed.
The doctor did a check and said, “Don’t worry.”
Many women thought they’d been defeated;
That day was the day I met true pain,
And my heart was put to the test.
But I thought of the love I was going to gain
When you give a woman’s best.
I did cry and surely did scream.
I pushed with all my might,
And, just like the sweetest dream,
I was blessed with my child that night.
Blue Rose by Julie D. Kreps
Walking Blind by Rebecca Perkins
Rebecca Perkins
Walking Blind
I journey down these streets,
eyes shut tight to all I know.
Although I cannot see at all,
I find my way down every road.
Each twist and turn familiar
as an everyday routine.
I am guided by the hope
that paints out every scene.
There are bridges to be crossed
that lead to places left unknown,
and despite my hindered sight
my imagination flows.
In my mind I picture change.
I see hope and faith revived.
Overcome with such emotion,
I finally feel alive.
I keep walking down the asphalt,
still blind to what’s ahead.
Yet I’ve never seen such beauty,
be it only in my head.