February, 2003

ENCORE II - The Dark Side of Life
February, 2003

9-11-01" ( a day of terror)

Marisa

We all raise the flag of our country's nation

That's the way of showing our appreciation

The crashes killed a lot of innocent people

After "Pearl Harbor", this was like another sequel

We all dream about it in our sleep

A perfect time to cry and weep

Our hearts and eyes filled up with tears

This will always be one of our fears

Friends, family are now in heaven and in our hearts

But they were all still standing right from the start.

~*~

THE DESTROYER

by, Janet Stewart

Skid Row, his Ganges

This place

A pyre without a procession

Fire engines wail

Along its holy banks

Human dogs skulk, skinny

A drunk lies unconscious

Spread like Jesus

On a filthy cot

~*~

ATTACK ON AMERICA

shaunbrown

you think you attacked us it's you who will fill the blast real fast you asked who has the bigger

grapefruits u'v seen

us bomb Afghanistan we once speaked

now we will stand beside with the army

navy marines british bombers to stop you from your biological chemicals weapons you will fall and fill the blast

so next time you think about attacking one of our tall buildings like a sneak attack remember next time we bomb Afghanistan

and Iraq you won't creep. we lost thousands of American's family and friends deepest thoughts go out to them.

~*~

The Hunchback and the Dragon (2002)

By Alicia Patti

The night my younger brother died

My father sat like a hunchback,

Moaning an old Sicilian dirge.

My mother tore her hair and wailed

As visions of her beautiful boy

Assailed her anguished brain.

It was I who saw him sailing through the air:

His skull splattered on the killing street

Like a ripe melon as the dastardly car sped by.

Papa took no notice of the

Forbidden cigarette dangling

From my trembling lips,

My dilated nostrils snorting fire

Like a raging young dragon

Spitting in the Face of Death.

When my father finally raised

His tearful gaze to mine, I saw a flicker

Of recrimination.

I bowed my head and shuddered with a sigh:

Why does the message of doom always go awry?

~*~

+Taste the Blood of My Fears+

-Adamina Salvucci, 1/5/03

I can hear them / laughing.. . .

desperation makes me blind

truth concealed by fury

I hear them / label me.. . .

my music makes me deaf

personality hidden by anxiety

I listen to them / pretend to care.. . .

rising anger makes me ignorant

it will all get the best of me

They make me hate myself

I can't ever / prove them wrong

paying them back with my blood

can they taste the metal of my tears?

I / lie. This pain is self inflicted.

They care not for I am too lost

as I repeat to my best of friends

They don't need to bother

you don't need to bother.

~*~

The Judgment

By Tamara Beryl Latham, c 2002

A ship glides into port this night

and stirs the sable sea.

Presents a solemn, eerie, sight

because it waits for me.

I board though distant memory

fuels quickly growing fears.

Unleashing ghosts that claim they're me,

who lived in previous years.

Cathedral bells toll heavy through

my life's divided acts.

As wraiths hold writs for all to view;

corroborated facts.

Soon Autumn winds expand the sails.

I've tallied riches few.

The lighthouse shrieks our mournful wails;

me and my ghostly crew.

~*~

Ramblings of a Homeless Man#1

henri young

disposable souls crushed by the soles

of the sole holders of power

hopeless eyes stare up at him in despair

disappear in the blink of an eye

confusion abounds as he sends his hell-hounds

to root out his opposition

liberty lives when we make a stand

understand what we have been given

~*~

It's a cold night

I'm full of fright

My toes are ice and feel like stale rice

If i didnt no better they were dice

To bad they are just ice

Because this cold night isn't being very nice

dan

~*~

RAIN

by Cassandra Angier

Rain Rain,

Cold Cold rain,

Falling down in fear and pain,

Falling. Burning. Crashing.

Drowning angels,

Crazy with fears

Blinded by tears,

Braking. Hurting. Dying.

Trapped with sin,

Always in a fight

I cry with everyday and night,

Rain Rain,

Cold Cold rain,

Brings me so much fear and pain.

~*~

Fire is at its best,

When the Jersey Devil is there,

Destroying crashing killing without taking a rest,

Digging down and down just to get to hell,

Creeping down the street at night,

To jump whoever is there,

But before even jumps him,

He’s shot with blood to spare, The crazy Jersey Devil is there

Michael Dynan

~*~

The sand was swept away softly by the sea,

as gently as it came to be;

The stars Glistened with a glossy gleam

which lit the night sky with the help of the moon's bright beams.

As I sit silently a waiting,

the night’s darkness is quickly fading,

but all that was right

was lost in the night.

Babikay

~*~

The Universe
Kyle Maguire

Veiled in an never-ending darkness,

Painted with stars, planets, and galaxies,

Being absorbed by black holes,

Having no prophecy, no pattern,

Behold the treacherous and mysterious Universe.

~*~

Rottweilers

fearless,brave

biiting,licking,barking

mean,dependent,lonely,bad

Rotty

kayon lewis

~*~

Autumn wind

Ben Kornstein

The trees danced as the wind glides by them.

The wind howled as it rustled against the trees.

The leaves bounced as they flew across the lonely street.

The grass sways back and forth against the autumn wind.

~*~

Mouse

Steven Bienbaum

I awoke in the night, about eleven o-clock, and went down the stairs and

saw a little mouse. I called my cats name and she came up to me. When i

woke up for school, the mouse was nowhere to be seen.

~*~

The Shadow

Jensine Rich

The cat crept quietly

Whispering its greetings to the still night

Then suddenly she flew

Attacking the shadows

Over rustling leaves

As she wondered onto the lighted porch

~*~

Mosquito
Haley Varhaug

As you’re strolling through a field,

A mosquito sees you as a meal.

It flies straight towards your face,

And soon, you get a taste!

~*~

Science

Cristal Lopez

Science is boring to much notes to take

Science is mass, volume and density

All of those words that drives you crazy.

Science is always taking test and quizzes

that sometimes are very hard.

Science help you to know more, but

with everything you know sometimes

you forget!

~*~

School, the joy of life

school a place for the mind to grow

a place where you grow into an adult

a place where teachers nag you about your school work

a place where you put into a clique

a place where you get a A or a F

a place where you enjoy or not enjoy your social life

a place where your future is decided over crummy tests

a place where you are popular or unpopular

School, can a crummy part of life

Vincent Bratica

~*~

Langwij Arts
Benjamin Bradley

Langwij Arts teaches u how two rite an esay that u will only rite in Langwij Arts becuz no won ever asks u too rite an esay.

Langwij Arts teaches u how too rite poetrie that u woodnt realy use un less u wur riting this poem.

Langwij Arts teaches u how two rite culturul riting witch u woodnt use any ways becuz u dont rite much at all.

Langwij Arts all so teaches u how too spel good and use rite gramma. Bye the way iz mine good.

~*~

Get the puck deke through your zone past a defender

Other players call for the puck, but you take it up the clear smooth ice

Another defender misses the check

Lead the pack past the blue line fake left goalie goes crazy shoot top shelf……

Jeff Ferguson

~*~

A.J. Kocher

People always want to be something they’re not.

It makes me so frustrated to see people trying to be Individual or prep.

I’m not sure what I am

And I don’t care what anybody calls me

Because I’m me

And that’s all I care about.

Because I’m me

And I don’t care what anybody calls me

I’m not sure what I am

Individual or prep

People always want to be something they’re not.

It makes me so frustrated to see people trying to be

~*~

Try to pretend

Markie

He says next to nothing to you

but expects you to welcome his tongue into your mouth

because you are 14 and he is 17

his universe is infinite

your's controlled

you stutter out an 'excuse me' as he tries to feel you up

his hands are bigger than yours

and you will not win

a feel of a knife in the crook of your neck

for some reason is not surprising

a sign of his victory

and your defeat

you cannot speak any longer

just stare at the cushion on the couch

and you try to pretend

that you are not there

that your good friend isn't in the next room giggling with a fraternity boy

try to pretend that the paneled walls don't leak around into their paradise

and wonder why you are even in this position in the first place

a dimmer inside of you turns on and then it becomes dark

your options become clear

perhaps you will die like Marie Antoinette

or choke on a substance that will stick down your throat like wood

you try to pretend that somewhere people don't hate you

that you are strong

and you will get through this

you will endure the pain

and then

when he's finished

he takes you home

says 'thank you' like you've just given him directions to the movie theatre

shakes our hand like you've just won an award

and drives away like nothing ever happened

~*~

Apocalypse

Redon Çabej

Where were you when the sky turned black?

And Satan came back,

With a goal to end the day

And take life as his prey.

With a soul darkened

And emotions hardened

He turned day to night

And showed us his might

Heroes came to save the day

They all fell prey

To Satan's merciless heart

And his torturous might.

Where were you when time ended?

As Satan came

With all Hell's flame

And life was doomed.

Did you fall and cry?

And wish an end to the night

And wish back the day?

Or did you just ask the almighty for might?

Satan darkened the sun with his hand

And Earth spun not once more around.

As hell fire in brimstone raged;

Satan in a war with life engaged.

He tore mankind limb from limb

And took away the dream

Of having a fighting chance,

In this final dance.

As Satan himself stood in victory,

Mankind saw its last moment in humility

As it began an eternity

Of agony.

~*~

Lonely Tears

Elizabeth

I sit here watching the candles burn

the light dances on the bedroom wall

as I wait here, waiting for your call

A tiny tear runs down my cheek

as I fear the worst will come

time passes by as I sit here

I sigh as I watch a flaming streak

My heart aches, as I know yours does too

I think to myself, how could I be such a full

the tears become bigger as I think go figure

I sit here waiting, waiting for your call

and I still watch the candle dance on my wall

the stars, they don't lie but still, still I cry

~*~

I'll fall into a bleeding sea

The deepest love he ever gave to me

The love of death for all to see

The love of birth to die and bleed

The love of life was sacrificed in me

Kill me, kill me, that's what I need

Surrender, surrender, surrender to me

Love me, hate me, that's what I scream,

Black raven of murder can't you see?

That's all he ever gave to me

So I'll fall into the bleeding sea

The deepest love he ever gave to me

The love of death for all to see

The love of depth that hides in me

Sarah

~*~

The Visitor

maurice casey harris

A frail wet gruesome night,

vigorously starring at the face of fright

swiftly grasping every moment of sound and

sight yet so tightly loosening that feeling of

such sorrow and lost compassionate, utterly

demystifying the moment of suspense leaving me

breathless lying on the floor of commonsense...

Then suddenly there's a tap... A tap at my door..

A tap at my window..I was uncertain which

and discontent but that tap filled my heart with

such fear and vexile, moment by moment listening

to that tap flowing through several textiles of my

sound barrier fence while partially being emotional

and mentally tense the approaching suspense was

embarrassing my thoughts with various illusions in an

hostile manner while trespassing in a devious exile

behavior...Then the tap..So I began treading softly

to the door with extreme caution step by step closer and

closer with that feeling of curiosity and paranoia

bubbling and rising through the pores of my flesh...

Then finally opening my door softly but yet gently

putting myself to the ultimate test praying that

i'm blessed with such great fearlessness at the

moment of distress..Slowly and slowly visually

realizing that there is nothing here to explore while

softly holding the door..I turned around with my head

to the floor while closing the door..Indiscretely

I began adoring feelings of great relief and metaphore..

Then all of a sudden right before my face appeared

a fading bodily image..Upsettingly casting my eyes

upon a human like aurora, a mere ghost. Or something

more..Then a voice......A distilled settle voice chanting

never the less just visiting and nothing more.

~*~

WET

Sonali Mehandru

Rain on the pavement

no unsettling questions no taboos

every drop curves around all

inside clumsily fitting ideas

pulling buttons breaking zippers

that don't zip

drops freeze and melt freeze and melt

maybe I am too close to your face

to witness their mutiny

surrounding us

inside running frantically through

glaring space and cracks,

I slip, mistakenly touch the wrong sore

I try to focus on each drop but

all I see is you

and my wet face within --

(with) a gaping hole so loud

that I can see

the unbinding other side.

~*~

TONE POEM (Night Vision)

...\Cate Espener (Jan/03)

Stone,

You are a stone for my heart

Inside unknowable

Deeply lined,

Immutable

Glistening by light and shade

Pressed against the hand

Within a soft continual curve

Something to grasp

Nomadic

Pale and grey

Once shore, now water

Washed away

Transformed into earth's seed

Swallowed up as a memory

A stone for my heart

~*~

ETERNAL CURSE

STEPHANIE

I stand in total darkness,watching with cold eyes.Staring at the human race as they stroll by,and I, waiting for the time to feed.

I pounce on them,and drink their blood,and listen till they can't breath. I roam around like a shadowy figure at night,making sure to stay far from the sunlight.

For I am cursed for eternity,drinking blood from the insanity.This endless cycle is driving me crazy,I will soon go mad and loose my mind.

I'll go on raids and kill all I see those that live, I shall soon find.For if you haven't figured it out I am a Great Vampire. Many try to catch me and set me a fire.

Foolish creatures they are the humans.

They try to rule all and all they see......

but they shall never rule me.

~*~

THE UNKNOWN TERROR

Megan

As soon as you get on top of the water an unknown terror brings you back down No matter how hard you try You cant get free Kicking screaming its no use Blood pounding in your temples There's just no end Oh its so hard to find the strength to even try Your so alone Oh wait light oh precious light You can reach up your hand passes the surface your free But you get pulled back down again your going down faster than ever It never ends No one can hear your screams No one even tries...

~*~

WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU!

Adam Davenport

Oh, master of deceit and disease,

King of cruelty and lies,

Your time is running out,

Your regime is ready to fall.

You can build your weapons,

You can recruit your men,

You can make your people think you'll win,

But the fact of the matter is you've lost.

While you put on a brave face and lie,

In the back of your mind,

You know you don't want us over their.

You'd better start digging your grave,

Because sooner or later,

We'll be over there,

Ready to take you down.

Be prepared for the next war,

Because we're coming to get you,

And this time we won't pull out!

~*~

We came here

We came

and we saw

and we were defeated

We crossed along

the bordered night

We crossed along

fields and lines

We came here

for a future

We came here

for the dream

We worked along

the paths that traveled

We worked along

the hours, days, and years

We came here

I thought we had a future

We came here

I thought there was a dream

We don't know

why we lick

the bottom of their feet

We don't know

this land

its people or its country

But We came here

We came

We saw

and we were defeated

Morisot

~*~

The Script
ghost

All I know is a way into the light.

Outside, new ideas and strange ways forming;

Inside, the well worn pens neat scripting,

The recollection of forgotten plight

Or grin when a new thought strengthens the page.

The idea must be some where in the mind,

Shining as an angel, with winged beauty,

Standing there unshakeable: with purpose

Where the hand gives back new lease and life.

Sometimes; a pause followed by the new past.

The pen is laid down with eyes shut thinking,

Remembering the ways of a long gone craft.

Then again; the grin with the pens neat script,

To give real words, and give back the past.

~*~

Slipping Through

Gerald Rice

Passing by unseen

Leaving no trail of remembrance

Existing as a shadowed afterthought

Using little and taking only what fits into pockets

The eye bends around flesh

A craned neck to look over

A vacant stare sees through

Even the fleeting lines of fingerprints fading fast

To tread past; a silent

Push through the interwoven fabric of civility 10

Becoming cousin to invisibility

Calling downwind home

Name withheld and no picture taken

Staining not the glass surface of society

A knowing glance quite mistaken

To crawl beneath the skin of notice;

Living without hello or goodbye

~*~

My Last Battle

By: Mohammed Dajani

My last Battle , It was the last of all.

It echoed in my dreams and in my soul.

I’ll never have to climb again out of that pit or hole.

I’ll Keep traveling towards the Sun and waterfall.

I’ll lay on the ground and surrender to the wilderness and the roars.

I won’t even bother with the Fox or Lion or even the wild Boar.

I’ll sleep like a baby in the Sun or in the cold.

And when the time has come, when I’m old, lazy and bored.

I will stand up, and surrender to the all mighty God

The one and all.

~*`

“If you ever see me coming

And If you know who I am

Don’t you breathe it to nobody

‘cause you know I’m on the Lam.”

Johnny Cash / Wanted man

Outlaws are existentialists...

That’s what Hamlin says

We are discussing the merits of Sartre via email

He writes me:

“All outlaws are existentialists because they have to think outside of the box to survive.”

I wonder if it’s not the other way around

Maybe all existentialists are outlaws

Because they can’t think inside the box

I am not an expert on existential thought

I do know that reading Sartre’s Nausea

Makes me laugh harder than anything Bukowski ever wrote

And somehow I feel ashamed and embarrassed

By finding humor in Sartre

In what should seem so bleak and desperate and alone

And somehow I feel ashamed and embarrassed

Of being white and nearly middle class

Of being so goddamned invisible

F#ck it

We’re all outlaws

At least any one of us

With the time or inclination to

Think Outside of the box

I feel like the shooter in Le Etranger

I am an outlaw