Graduation is not too far away may twenty ninth is the day.

It's the day to say good-bye to friends and that you will miss them.

I don't want to say goodbye to my friends.

Because I love them more then family.

If I say goodbye to friends.

I'm afraid I might never again say hi.

Graduation is coming very fast time to say goodbye to the past.

Eighteen years of my life has past.

Some sad some good some bad but all memorable.

All I can look forward to is the future now.

Although I don't think I know how.

Graduation class of two thousand and four is ready to go.

I don't want to leave school though.

John Cody Holt

 I Owe My Billions To Poetry

I once was a poor and humble barbarian like you, crawling in the dust,

then one day I wrote a poem, because my mother said I must. I wanted my poems to be skyscrapers of vocabulary, and to represent the epitome of out-of the-box-thinking, I sat down one sunny day and I said, You're fired!, without winking." Every now and then I find time for a brief excursion into the realm of prose, above my bulldozers making so much noise. As I look outside my penthouse windows, while eating, I see a dozen roses, I say to my valet, "who sent those?" I recently have bought out the Wall Street Journal, they made me mad by calling me captain, and not colonel.

Reflection

Bill Albright

The words I leave on the mirror of the page are me

The words a reader sees on the page become theirs

Between the lines we each see what we choose.

I am as clear as the reflection in a gilded mirror

The reader sees a reflection on a stone,

Assayed by them to be

A nugget or schist.

Father Of Mind
Gene Brown Jr.

         Father of mind. Well I know that it have been a year since I called you

last. But I have some things, that I have to get off of my chest. Before I can

rest.

         O father of mind. I feel like the whole world is laying across my chest. I

have some things, that I have to say to you before a can rest.

         O father of mind. When I picked up the phone. I thought that new;

what I was going to say, but my broken heart got the best of me. o why do we

have to be this way.

         O father of mind. I feel like the whole world is laying across my chest. I

have some things, that I have to say to you before a can rest.

         When I was a child. There wasn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for you.

Even how; the kind things that you did, for me was few and far in-between.

         O father of mind. I feel like the whole world is laying across my chest. I

have some things that I have to say to you before a can rest.

         O father of mind. I guess that there’s one thing, that I steel don’t under

stand. Why I steel love you so. I better let you go. I know that more

important things to do than take to me on the phone.

         O father of mind. I feel like the whole world is laying across my chest. I

have some things that I have to say to you before a can rest.

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The Reality of Plastic

By Tamara Beryl Latham, c 2004

My life

wending as the train,

plowing through the global

tracks of time.

Compassing

a techno-plastic world,

whose people,

ants with laptops,

following the Dow

on mobile phones,

stop only momentarily

to flash

a glacial smile.

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SHORELESS ISLE

Somewhere, there lives a planetoid

deep in the universe;

a hidden land of dreams, devoid

of everything perverse.

A place of solace, free of war

and all the ills, thereby;

its seas and meadows form a floor

beneath a pastel sky.

Incessantly, the orb revolves

around its mother star,

oblivious to all resolves

to probe us from afar.

A NEW DREAM

Curtains danced in tune with the busy wind

From the ocean with an emerald hue

Up above the Sun, in the sky clear blue

With rays had stung my eyes open

Clocks slender hands greeted with a ten

A splash of cold water, a jolt of life

Eggs, coffee, a silver fork and a knife

Haunted those thoughts from times past

My marathon, midnight oil fueled chase

In my oblivion, the stage in summer’s warmth bathed

Falls bright colors, a joyous symphony played

Dancing snowflakes outside my window beckoned

Little yellow flowers, on springs green grass smiled

The days' hours ran by, the ruminations stayed

The moon has now turned on the cool white shower

I walk on the relaxing sands searching for an answer

The sleepy ocean, with its cool breeze whispers

What is it that time stole from my treasures?

It’s not the destination; it’s the drive I crave,

Tired of living a reverie, ventures the thought stream

“All you really really need is just a new dream”.

                                  

- Mountain bound lotus eater.

LOOKING AT A REFLECTION

               By David Lee Ward

What do I see when I look into mirrored glass?

Another of God’s creatures staring back alas,

For nothing that I can tell is outstanding reflects back,

I wish I had looked into a mirror cracked!

If I had only chosen the latter you see,

I’d have two chances to see something relevant to me,

Told time and again being human is enough,

I still keep looking for that popular stuff.

Am I handsome, good looking, attractive, of the three,

I wish it were more obvious then I could let it be!

Instead all I have is what people say,

Opinions I value until I find myself stray,

To a mirror, pool of water, shiny surface which reflects,

What I can’t see for myself, surely I will regret!

I was not born with the knowledge of what other people see,

When they look at my reflection as a mirror and see me!

All

Ride so easy feels like a lens

Looking at many wondering if they

Can see any. busy, Moving now

departing. the smiling,

Laughing, conversationalist,

Destination bound. all the same

Yet so different breathing the same

Air with different

Textures of hair. moving back and

Forth with different transports.

All the same yet so different.

Glamorize with a glance thinking

Could this be my chance.

That’s how it goes

I look back and wonder at all

Green gum and Werthers and volleyball

So much anger, too much pain

It’s amazing we made it out sane

So now, making it to heaven is uncertain

And that act of our life dies as we close the curtain

For hours backstage, we’ll laugh, say our “remember when’s”

And hope no one saw the biggest of our sins

But as it were, everyone saw and everyone knows

So we hide behind politeness and say “that’s how it goes”

Perhaps one day we’ll forgive, but we’ll never forget

Ugly memories a poster, memorializing our debt

              LIFE

If you think you're lost,,

It maybe an illusion.

Because you're always where you should be.

And your on the road to where you're going..

    Art Rogers The Mad Poet 2003

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 Barbara A. Yeager
     
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(c) Bill Murray 4/8/04
             
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WHERE THE LION LAY WITH THE LAMB

By: Adam Nathaniel Thrush

If we as human beings were perfect would we then dream of being flawed?

In this expanding universe it is difficult to surmise on a subject so broad

If we let the laughter strangle our aspirations, our inspirations, our communications with love

In this expanding universe there will be nothing for us to ever dream of

I can't withstand, can not understand, why you put your hand on the lens of my telescope

I can't climb, can't find the time, so don't even bother to throw me the rope

It isn't like I'd have the energy to make it so far

To that gateless kingdom, To that unheated star

Where the lion lay with the lamb

I remember the last day of freedom, I kissed

my mom goodbye. I left for Navy bootcamp,

and yes, of course, I cried. I

thought "What was I thinking?", as we

arrived there on the bus. They rushed us

off and lined us up to yell and scream and

cuss. All scared of our shadows now, not one

of us could sleep. We were too busy getting

shots, standing on aching feet. Morning

times alarmed us, when Chief came walking

through, screaming through a megaphone," GET

UP! GET UP RECRUIT!" After processing was

done and we were cleared from any harm,

they dropped our asses silly, until it

killed our arms. The weeks are rolling by

now, and this hell is making sense. The

reason we get screamed at, is not because

we're dense. For every sailor in here, we

understand now why...The U.S. is in our

hands now, and we cannot let you die.

2004
By J Lee Hamilton

 

There ain’t no music.

Where’re are the drums?

The coronets?

The trumpets?

The piccolos?

The tubas?

The fifes?

All I hear are guns.

Today I saw the flag draped coffins of the slain.

Ground contains the coffins.

Coffins contain the bodies.

Bodies contained the sacred.

Sacred contains the universe.

Fathers to the children , children to the fathers.

Straw dogs to the wealthy , numbers to the generals.

Disrespect to the sacred.

David Witbeck 

IT
By Harry Kel*

If life is what you make of it

And pleasure is all you take from it

Then who am I

To just stand by

I’ll make you question just for the sake of it

For Kafka to evolve it

For Freud to try to solve it

Although the search for reason

Continues from season to season

Time will forever dissolve it

It’s easy to forget it

And never to regret it

But I won’t let

This simple mind set

To allow you to plead "I don’t get it"

"Beau être"

Life is super, super, super

We have a parliamentary body

and ice cream jelly, jelly, jelly

Kodak moments

and pricelessness posited at

irresistible pay-per-view

rates the success of campaign I

dependent upon consensus R

A-ustralia "You little ripp

-er" brains don't mean a bloody

grasshopper, non-men will be correct

in light of the tremendous arguability of thesis Q

ball, be a sport, a sportingly, sportish cricket

a properly propish raj, a tory, tory, tory

Oh GLORY!

and in april i remember

St. Puck

-0-

By Unigon

I LOOK ABOUT MYSELF AND WHAT I SEE.

I look about myself with worried eye

And put a question ­ will this endless fight

Bring love to any? Or will people die

Having no strength to stand or change their plight?

Tell, is this love so fragile and so weak

That you just have to fight to keep it well?

Or fighting is the only way to speak

More than your heart can speak or tongue can tell?

Or do you think that violence adorns

And fill your love with rare and sharp finesse?

I’ve never seen a rose without its thorns,

But roses do not bark and bite, I guess.

And I pray God, Our Lord to give me right

To put this question: “Will you stop the fight?”

Winning the Game

I dribble up and down the court

I think I really like this sport

Five seconds left

I look up to check

I take a three

We take a nee

The crowd goes wild                        

You can see us all smile

My coach is cheering

We all are cheering

The coach says thank you son

I know we actually won

 

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TIME

By Michael Johnston

Time is of the essence,

The star of night and day,

Hours, minutes, seconds,

All of night and day.

The tic and toc,

The rise and set,

The time, it comes and goes.

The star, it sleeps,

And then it wakes,

The end of never known.

Flow

Antique eyes from yesterdays dawn

Piercing blue skies piercing from beyond

They sit and stare

clouds of white

tears so bright

Everlasting beauty of pink Orchids

Sun gleaming on yellow seas

fire burning as bright as the world under

Canvas plain with significant beauty

exquisite rainbow beyond the horizon

feathers of gold floating from above

Every person has a wonder about them.

Every flower a different smell,

Every sunset grows more beautiful.

Every Christmas, more snow,

Every church service, more worship.

Every bedside, more prayer,

Every smile more meaningful

and every thought more pure,

Because no one loves life like him that's growing old.

Story Sollars

"To Have and to Hold"

 Dustin Coffey

I sought a cover to be thermally sated

For all I wore was threadbare and faded.

Like brilliant painful clouds to spy

Weeping before the ethereal sky.

Now I've a striking wardrobe in line...

One unfolds, you've ascribed, when present

In the lobes of my mind.

What love is written in my blood?

True; when you're close my eyes do flood.

My heart races like away this youth,

Turning the leaves in a chapter with you.

Still I fan these pages yet,

And the rain hasn't bled these colors wet.

For us sweetheart I do dread gloom

While I delight in pondering we'll always share one moon.

Forever and always, to have and to hold-

To you sweetness my first love's sold.

-0-

THE LEFT BEHIND BAG

I forgot my backpack on the counter

while I was running out the door

Escaping from bad memories

I hate to think

what could be found in it

Sketches from the ex-boyfriend

who loved art

an almost pornographic book

from the one who loved to

play his part

the journal that I kept

for the therapist

where I scribbled down

the dreams, hopes, and fears

I've kept inside me

all these years

Secrets too cruel for tears

Roller coasters

Roller coasters go at a supersonic speed.

They go up and down and all around.

They twist and turn around every curve.

They have surprise drops when you least expect it.

When the roller coaster goes so fast you feel like you are flying.

As you go you scream and holler.

Your screams fill the air.

Your thoughts are filled with fear.

A roller coaster follows the track up and down and all around.

It takes you here and there and everywhere.

When you twist and turn around every curve you get whipped around.

you feel like you are going to fall when you get whipped around.

There are many surprise drops on roller coasters.

They make you feel all woozy.

When the is done you get out and feel unsteady.

After it all you want to go again.

Flying Back to Memories

I wish I could fly

Beyond the horizon skies

Past the blanket of stars,

Up to where you are.

If I could leave this place

And visit the pearly gates.

Just to touch your face,

For your warm embrace.

But it is too far for

My broken wings to fly.

Some say I can talk to you

But only if they knew.

The pain I go through,

Trying to go back in time

To know how to save you,

Flying back through our memories,

But it is too far for

My broken wings to fly.

FOREVER LOST

by MICHEAL BASSFORD

 he was black as black can be, he stood there standing over me

twisting hands with belt in tow, buckle shine is all i know

  liquor smell comes with pain, and everyday it seemed to rain

mother warned don't raise your voice, until he leaves we have no choice

 nervous twitches rocks you to sleep, you wet the bed you little creep

  backhand knuckles bruise your face, and all the years you can't replace

there were no games with bat and mitt, we never planned a fishing trip

 cardboard bunk beds and welfare cheese, mother had to fight for these

but now he tells us that he cares, and sends his grandkids things to wear

  good god he say's he's born again, his soul no longer full of sin

 but what about his children's lives, those empty little things he despised

   he say's he traded the fires of hell for heavens gate,

            but what about us for christ sake.

green leaves appear

blossoms of a new day awaken

greeting given

littleholyboy

"BE I,A LONELY BOY"

                       Michael Edgar Rogers

             Be I,A Lonely Boy

             Nothing much Filled

             Bereft of Pride and Joy

             Grief?Despair?

             I wonder which one

             Is Life worth Living..

             does it get you anywhere??

            

             Be I,a Peasant in a Cage

             Simpleton,Mind you..

             caressed by Hate

             Who's smothered In Buttered Rage

             All Alone,twiddling his Thumbs

             Up in his Bedside

             Comforted in his Musty old Room

             The Thoughts of Independence

             Drifting wearily From Sight

             He finds it hard to get up

             In the Morning,Noon,or Night

             Be I,a Doggy

             Straggling along without a Care

             Puppy is on all Fours

             Looking for a Ms.to hold Paw and Share

             Bare to the Bone

             Without Collar or Leash

             A Breeder without a Friendly Feeder

             Or a Kennel for one to call HOME

                         

You were never able to see my first steps or

To watch me grow.

Though you never caused me pain

When you died because of my age.

I take your picture out every night,

And stare as hard as I can

Wishing you’d come back.

I never got to live my life with you by my side.

Every night I look up at the sky

And scope out the brightest star

And pretend it’s you.

Oh how I long to hold you tight

And see you happy expression on your face.

I want to hear you say you care,

As I look at the sky I flout

In my mind thinking about you.

I want you to come back even for a day

And tell my mother you love her

So she is caused no more pain.

Hug my sister

So she knows you care.

I don’t want anything

But my family to be happy.

Even as much as I love you,

I wish them no more pain.

 So now all I can do

Is look at that bright shinning star

And wonder where you are.

“Explanation”

Written by: Michelle Ellen Hunter

Welcome to the circus,

I'm a contortionist in my own mind,

my routine prepared in order

to stage my hidden life.

Beyond me is a boundary

a line that I must cross,

to awaken unknown voices

buried deep inside.

Would you like to see the show?

How much would you pay,

to expose a coward,

and bleed within my heart?

So Welcome, welcome one and all,

step up now and take a ride

through my darkest thoughts

breathe me from inside.

Do not be afraid

of this broken glass,

the Subtleties of pain,

let the pleasure in and don't be betrayed.

A scratch of Paper

A scratch of paper is all I need

Pen and scratch paper commits the deed

Scratch paper can find a way to cope

Imagine these words to bring us hope

A stroke of genius and the moment is caught

A scratch of paper to share my thoughts

CONGENIAL ATTENTION AHA!

  PAMELA URIARTE. APR/30/04

THANK YOU so much all,

2 read what's in my possetion,

don't think I'm a poetEASE of title,

because of school-not

it's my i-DENTification,

and about the "BOLd" faced font,

hope won't get to be  my deception,

but if your purpose "beyond words",

is "GOOD" to my own conception,

my honor will blow some for you,

just to hear what's in your perception,

my neatness is not in sale for gold,

if your think is better

to have "wrong" connections,

and this is not 4 the open mic,

is just to prepare you

and get (my name in) your attention,

I just didn't like though

20 lines or word limitations

but anyway I'llook "forWARD"

just 2 get some"congenial" impressions.

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