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Poetry
Highlights of the January, 2007 Issue |
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Music of the Rodeo Hell, Stephanie Hansen The Dog in the Backyard, Atalie Carlson Running Girl, Stephanie Hansen What Used to Be, Kelly Sullivan Middle School Dances, Sam Kucaj Dear Young Mother, Rachel Behling A Perfect Night, Austin Krueger Second of Awesomeness, Amy Gunderson Damsel in Distress, Amanda Radke Today and Tomorrow, Alyssa Dresang The Philosophy of the Slide, Kristin Kieckhaefer Everyone Needs a Bad Boy, Stephanie Hansen No More Times Like These, Robyn Lane Twas the Night before Rehab, Maggie Lapajenko Ryan Joshua Stein, Elizabeth Du Pont What’s-her-name, Karissa Jorns Reach for the Stars, Rachel Savatski To Say the Least, Paul Stucker Modern Psychiatrics, Paul Stucker The Classic Catholic, Meridan Flint
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Stephanie Hansen
It’s so twangy, Not twangy like citrus. Twangy like Annoying. Every time I go to school Someone Is singing that new Rascal Flatts tune Of the new Underwood Jam, While I’d rather Jam my head in a Redneck pick-up truck door. The whole “Git R Done while I ride my dirt bike” lifestyle Appeals to me like a Full foul garbage bag does. Just because We live in Nowheresville, Wisconsin Doesn’t mean we have to Automatically be Country Bumpkins.
Atalie Carlson
He was just there one day. Dirty blue collar I’d never seen him before. He showed up behind The jungle gym. Looking in the window, He looked me in the eyes. His were glazed over. No life. A muddy golden. Walked with a limp Walking around my Backyard, like he was Looking for something Sniffing the dead brown grass. “What is it, boy?” I went outside to get a closer look. A chilling wind blew through. He was gone. A deep, quiet bark right behind me. But nothing.
Stephanie Hansen
Where are you running too? I get asked every day. Who is expecting you? No one, just lunch. Is she honestly running to lunch? I sure am, it’s gyro day. Where is she running to now? Choir, I love choir. Does she really eat lunch in the band room? It keeps me away from the lunchroom drama. Does she know how much of a loser she is? I sure do, and proud of it. Look at that stupid freshman! I’m a senior… There goes running girl again, Right on time. Never late to class. Never late to lunch. Never late for anything, Because she is always Running.
Kelly Sullivan
I found an old picture of you Back when you used to smile Do you remember those days? I remember like it was yesterday When you didn’t cry all the time And when your smile was your best friend Aside from me, of course I remember when you didn’t go to therapy And when you didn’t take happy pills Someday I think you’ll remember those days And forget these It will be okay My shoulder will never get tired It will never buckle from holding the weight Of your tears
Matt Kowalke
Every time I see an olive I think of your corny eyes Your one of a kind smirk Your funny comments. You used to live with us, But now you live in Milwaukee. We see each other once in awhile Usually on the holidays. Sometimes you come to My wrestling meets, But often times you’re too busy.
But that was last year Now you have made it to two Of the last three. A new personal record. You’re kind of my good luck charm Because every time you’re there I always win. You’re the life of the party, Everyone’s best friend, Someone I want to be when I grow up.
Lezlie Smith
As I close my eyes I think of you In your dark blue jeans And a graphic t-shirt.
We would watch movies And snuggle under blankets. You would squeeze me tight And I’d look into your deep brown eyes. When I couldn’t sleep You would rock me until my eyes closed. In the dark, your jet black hair Disappeared. I could only see your smiling face And feel your warmth and love.
Now I’m older. We bicker back and forth. But till this very day You still hug me and snuggle with me. I’ll always be your little girl, Mom.
Samantha Kucaj
I remember middle school dances With my dearest friends and classmates Moving to the music under paper streamers And cardboard decorations.
We sang along to the music And moved our bodies accordingly. We were small and lanky and in our minds Dressed to kill.
The girls spent too much time in the bathroom Adding lip gloss and adjusting flawed hair While boys stood on the sidelines of the gym As wallflowers drinking their sodas and eating candy.
When the clock on the side wall struck 9:30 pm The dance was over and parents were waiting in the entrance way For their kids to grab their coats from their lockers And head on home to start their weekends.
Carolyn Horst
I remember when I was four When my dad would go working Out in the barn with the cows While I tagged along behind him.
He would set up machines And shovel out corn and oats, And open the door to the pasture, Then the large, bulky cows lazily shuffled in.
My dad reached under cows Locked into their stanchions To hook them up to the milk machine As they ignored him completely.
I squatted in the aisle My over-sized ratty play t-shirt Touched the lime-covered floor As I watched him with squinty eyes.
I asked him if I could milk the cows, If I could crawl under a big animal and hook it up to a machine And then dump the milk into the cooler.
He told me I couldn’t yet, Because I was not old enough. He said I would have to be eighteen Before he’d let me milk the cows.
I picked up my kitty and walked out of the barn Wanting to be able to help my dad under the cows, Longing to help more with the animals, Wishing I was older.
Kelly Sullivan
I used to be the kid who always got hurt Endless skinned knees and elbows I was a box of band-aids a week kind of kid My bike ran into trees I would fall off of the merry-go-round I’m that kid you saw swinging crooked And hitting the swing set pole I always fell off the monkey bars I never cared I was a kid, and I was having fun Nothing could slow me down I never even shed a tear I would get right back up and start playing again I was invincible, I was tough That kid is no longer in me Last week I got a paper cut Whined like a baby And refused to keep working Until I got a bandage
Rachel Behling
It’s that time of year again. Christmas pictures being taken At the local department store. I am standing in line, Waiting with my sister To get our pictures taken for our parents. In front of us Stands a mom with two children, A boy and a girl. From the angle, they look like twins, About the age of five. Tired and frustrated, The mom tries her best To keep her children calmed down. Running in circles Chasing each other, The brother and sister laugh And scream. Sometimes, they get into a little tussle. The boy pulls his sister’s pig tails. The girl steps on her brother’s heels. When things get out of hand, The mother takes each of them By the hand., And holds one child on one side, And the other child on the other, Trying to keep them apart. The twins’ turn comes for their pictures. Still slightly fighting,, The boy and girl sit next to each other In front of a gray screen and on a table Covered with cotton as fake snow. Once in awhile, The siblings push each other over, But in the end A beautiful photo is produced.
Dear young mom, I feel for you. In the future I will know what you are going through. Congratulations for doing a great job. Your children are wonderful. Before you know it They will be grown up, And you won’t have to deal With the now and then arguments.
Austin Krueger
When I took you out on that hill I wanted it to be the perfect night. I wanted the stars to shine bright Over your beautiful blonde hair.
I wanted the sky to be pitch black So that when the full moon shone With its white shining beam of light I would see your beautiful face. Your eyes lit up as you gazed upon the stars.
It was the perfect night The perfect night to take you The one I love out to the spot Where we met for the very first time The hill covered in flowers And the big maple tree Where we carved our names And wrote the words. A perfect night, for a perfect future2
Amy Gunderson
The bell rings and I rush to the door, I fly out of the room as fast as I can. I dodge people all around me And get my foot stepped on.
I zigzag through the halls Hoping my timing is right. I can’t wait for the two seconds Of awe When I see and pass you in the hall.
Amanda Radtke
They keep her locked away In the only place away from him. It’s like the story of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Her evil step-mother, or in this case her own father, Keeps her from everyone else. No contacts with the one she loves Her heart longs for him. She waits by the bay window, Hoping he will appear at her door. She cannot stay in her house anymore, But why she doesn’t do something is beyond me. I’m the only one who knows the truth, Yet she will not let me help her in the ways that I could. I contact him once in awhile To tell him how she’s doing. He’s excited to hear from me, And to know that she still loves him, More than anything in the world. He tells me to keep looking after her To continue to be her guardian angel. But how can I be a guardian When she’s not in a safe place?
Alyssa Dresang
Today I launched my tears to the moon Using my childhood slingshot. The sadness which I acquired Was more than I could bear, A sadness I no longer wanted to deal with.
Today I used an old worn torpedo, headed nowhere, Full of my kindness for all of the world to see, And pushed it out into the ocean in hopes there would come a better day. Maybe it will return, maybe not.
Today I sent off an airplane Full of cargo that weighed as much as my love for you. It’s going as fast as it can And words are chasing it in the stream of exhaust behind it.
Today…you left me here. And tomorrow, I hope you get the letter Telling you how much I miss you And I thought you come home.
Brandon Ketelhut
“Die!!!! Die!!!! Die!!!!” My brother screams at the television screen As he plays the newest war simulation game “Die You Stupid, Nazi! Die!” The sounds of explosions echo from the background Braaaaaapp he fires the gun into an oncoming wave of enemy soldiers “GAME OVER,” The field hospital doctor says, Pulling the eyelids closed of my recently deceased brother.
Kristen Kieckhaefer
Climb up Slide down Climb up Slide down Slides mirror life Life mirrors slides Climb up Live It Up Slide down Come crashing down Could I stay on the slide forever Between the stairs and the spiral downwards Feel the wind beneath my feet And never have to experience The downward slope of life? I lost my balance once or twice But in the despair upon that grassy knoll I realized that from way up high I was never close enough to smell the flowers below
Maria Grundy
I want to tell you what you’ve missed How much I’ve grown Christmas isn’t the same Every birthday I keep waiting for your call When I had my accident I wanted to call you You would have comforted me I wish you could have seen me In my homecoming dress I’m a senior now, can you believe it? We don’t go up north that often The cabin is dirty when we arrive You would have it sparkling clean with an apple pie hot, waiting for us Someone else has to make your green Jell-O at Thanksgiving Our family has somewhat fallen apart Things just aren’t the same No one talks as much as they used to You were the one thing that kept us all together.
Stephanie Hansen
I don’t know what it is exactly, But you make me feel Dangerous. The tension rises, The excitement builds up, When I know I’m going to see you.
Your kiss is like a beautiful song. The listener is unsure beforehand How it will sound. Maybe they are a bit Nervous. But as soon as the first note is released, The whole world disappears.
Your touch is like an earthquake. When you stroke my arm, My insides start to shake. When you hold me tight, I sink into the earth.
You make me feel…beautiful. Even when I come to school thinking I look Undone, You say “You look pretty good today” And it means the world to me.
I find myself forgetting, Responsibilities, Priorities, Common sense, Whenever I’m near you or thinking of you And I couldn’t be happier about it.
I hope you know As long as you keep on smiling, I’ll be by your side. Because your smile is like an infection, And I can’t help but catch it.
Robyn Lane
The snow was falling My little legs were tired My nose was red and cold My hands were covered with little wet gloves.
I was having so much fun Never wanting to quit. Feeling the cold winter wind hitting my face With the cold snowflakes, flying.
Sliding down the frozen hill Hiking my way back up You and me Sledding I’ll remember days like these ‘course now, things have changed But I’ll always have those days I remember.
Joe Aumann
Ideas that run rich through my soul Thoughts of love and anger Things that create drama Make beautiful melodies
Harmonies are of a different tune Thoughts of contradiction Things that make me think Of what I want to portray
Nothing more basic, nothing more beautiful Something uplifting, something controlling Music is from the heart A form of love
Shauna Holmes
Now that I think about it I really do wish I could take back what I said Take back what I felt. I regret crying when we broke up. It was a mistake, and made you think I still wanted you But too much time has passed to grasp it and take it back.
I was there, on the floor talking to you on the phone Discussing what I said earlier I gave you the little folded up note That said I couldn’t be with you anymore And I told you I would still be your friend. I regret saying that too. When we rode in my car you held my hand. I also regret letting you do that And when you kissed me on the cheek time and time again, I wished it never happened But too much time has passed to grasp it and take it back.
Emma Doubleday
There you are, in your flannel shirt. Smiling, like always. Dirty hand and pants Never ceasing always go, never stop.
You care about us all. Playing with the young Talking and joking with the older.
I can see your face when you are sneaking a brownie So sly and smiley. You care about everyone, And the world knows you.
We can’t go anywhere without you Knowing somebody. You are never cruel or mean.
You are a perfect Pappy!
Samantha Kucaj
You’re probably up in Heaven right now Wearing the cute purple jumper We laid you to rest in. In the morning you’ll awaken from a peaceful sleep Cured of the disease that took your life. You’ll be ready to walk and talk and move Like the normal child you never were. You’ll run around with your old dog Dexter Who guarded you like gold when you were with us. My dog Shasta will probably join you And the three of you can frolic together. That evening you’ll join your grandfather And Jesus for dinner, One of the most magnificent dinners you’ll ever see. Afterwards you’ll get to enjoy dessert And it will taste “heavenly!” Angels will come and take you with them So that they can show you around a little bit more. You’ll hold hands when you cross Heaven’s streets Because you’re young and that’s what young children do. You’ll worry for a moment because we’re not there with you, But before you go to sleep on your cloud, You’ll remember that some day, we will be.
Maggie Lapajenko
'Twas the night before rehab And all through the house Not a celebrity was stirring Not even Mickey Mouse.
The bottles were tossed lazily on the floor Knowing that tomorrow there would be more.
The paparazzi were all smug in the bushes While the celebrities were passed out on their tushes. And Paris in her dress, and Britney in a cap Had just settled down for a long drunken nap. When out on the lawn there was such a clatter Brittney sprang from her bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window she flew like a flash Tore open the window with a great bash. The moon on the rise of the fresh fallen snow Gave the idea of mid day to the paparazzi below.
Then what to her bloodshot eyes should appear But a miniature police car And eight more. With a little old siren, so loud and clear She knew at that moment they were drawing near.
Faster than Ferraris they sped They blared, and screeched, an oh how she dreaded! “Now Britney! Now Paris! Now Nicole and Robert L! Come on out, Kurt, on Steven T! On the Cartoon Mouse! Come out, come out Of that Gol darned house! Don’t run away, run away, run away you all!” (We’ve got you surrounded.)
As crazy as those celebs are When met with a consequence they run to the car. So down to the garage they all flew With a purse full of jewelry, money too.
And then, in a second, they heard at the door Pounding and smashing, more and more. Britney pulled out her keys, and was turning around When through the door the police chief did bound. He was dressed in a suit From his head to his feet And that officer looked pretty darn beat.
A bundle of handcuffs he had clipped on his belt. His glare hot enough to make them melt. His eyes how they raged! His sweat dripping, His badge shone, his hand slipping His shiny gun tucked on his side. Paris quick tried to run and hide But he caught her hair and she said,
“But you’re chubby and plump, you can’t arrest me!” Paris squeaked falling to her knees. He laughed when he heard this. “You’re going to jail anyways, Misss!”
He spoke no more and went right to his work Handcuffed them all, with a big smirk. He pushed them outside “In a few weeks you’ll be tried.” He sprang to the car, gave his team a look This all could have been avoided,” he said “if you would have just gone to rehab.” And down to the station they went to get booked.
Elizabeth DuPont
You know, it’s weird, I’ve never held a baby before-- Somehow, though, it comes naturally. You fit perfectly in my arms as I gently rock you, Humming you a lullaby. I can’t believe how cute you are Considering you are only eleven days old. You already have a head covered in silky black hair Which I gently stroke, Afraid because you are so fragile. You sneeze, yawn, then stretch, But you never fall asleep. With your eyelids half closed, you gaze up at me, Little blue eyes hidden by long lashes. What must you think of your second cousin? I didn’t expect to fall in love with you so fast. Actually, I was disappointed when I found out you were a boy. They are all boys in this family. But now, well, I guess that’s okay. You will be different than they, little R.J. You will be the quiet one, the thoughtful one Who reads books and loves music, Why, just look at your long fingers! You’ll be a great piano player someday And I’ll be there to teach you how. My heart melts as those fingers Wrap around one of mine! Yes, R.J., you’re gonna be special. We can only pray that in the next ten days, Your birth parents won’t change their minds And want to take you back.
Kimmy Prill
You arrived at my house dressed as Santa Claus When I was eight Trying to make me believe again. Your long beard dyed white and that rented Santa suit. You did it all for me.
I think of you as my second dad Someone to scare the boys away Which annoyed me the most. Someone I knew would protect me always.
You were my daddy’s best friend, The one he could count on for anything at all. If he needed someone to help him fix a car, You were the first one there without Daddy having to ask.
You were the person anyone looked to to brighten the day. Who knew you would bring those same people The most painful day of all? Wondering and waiting if you were ever going to come out of that house SWAT teams and that obnoxious guy with the megaphone. They stood outside waiting for you to appear. After that gunshot was heard, you never returned. My daddy cried that day And I believe it rained.
Lauren Faust
I remember second grade, With that wooden play set And that big blacktop surface. It wasn’t even black anymore. It was the color of all the chalk Drawings upon it.
I remember you. I remember my friends. I remember him. You two were opposites. You were my corny best friend. We melted marshmallows together. You always ate the burnt ones.
He was the tall, popular guy. He had that shaggy blond hair. All the girls loved him. I just liked him but he liked me back.
I remember when you gave me that ring. I kept it for ten minutes And then I decided that I liked him better. I threw the ring at your head But I realized I was wrong the next day. You wouldn’t take me back. I wished we were older So I could apologize, and we could get married.
Karissa Jorns
Whenever I used to see her, I thought she had a nice figure. She was skinny, |
