Foreign Test

She thought I wasn't done

I did as much as I could understand.

I don't know those simple words.

I don't know much of

What the test

Is asking of me.

I wrote what I knew.

I can't handle viewing

The demolisher of confidence

Once more.

I did as much as I knew.

I can't do much more.

I want to do well,

Though I fear I

Am unable to show

What I know.

I might never know

What I know.

The Never Ending Wait

Waiting for another

Name to be called,

Sometime in a year

My name will be called.

People with various expressions

See their tests,

While I wait for mine.

2nd Chance

Clamped hands

Interlocked,

Frozen.

Pressure,

Pressure,

Pressure.

Talking this time,

But not speaking.

2nd chance,

And I still blew it.

Enough

I sit here

Holding back my tears.

I don't understand this.

I will never understand this.

I have accomplished nothing.

But as I peer over

My stacks of homework,

I see my binder.

In it has papers and

Essays,

Worksheets and

Lessons.

"I have made progress."

It's slow but steady,

And I am learning much.

I can't know everything,

But I know enough.

Dare to Inspire

If we were told

We are appreciated,

The world could be changed

For the better.

We can't assume

People think we are important.

Many haven't heard

They are inspiring.

Inspiring?

Important?

Appreciated?

Motivating?

That can't be me.

So say it.

Tell someone you think

They are important.

Dare to inspire.

You may change their day,

Week,

Or life,

Around.

Roller Coaster

Roller coaster

Through my brain.

The ride never

Comes to an end.

Once it hits the clouds,

It comes crashing down

To the land beneath.

It's a never-ending,

Draining,

Frustrating,

Ride.

My mind

Spins

Until I finally

Collapse.

The Mask

The stresses of home

School

And work.

Everything disappears

When her mask is on.

She puts on

That smiling mask

Every day.

But eventually,

It's too much; 

Too exhausting

To pretend anymore.

The mask is found
Just as she gets to school.

She walks around
With her head hung low
Concealed in black.

No one knows her
When her mask
Is on.

America Library of Poetry Submission

I have a favor to ask you. I am entering into the America Library of Poetry national contest. I need help deciding which poem to submit. Please let me know which one you think I should submit. I love you all and thank you for your help. These are the poems I'm thinking of:

Who is the Real You?

Labels are stuck

On each one of us.

They discriminate.

Alienate.

Separate.

Jock.

Nerd.

Disabled.

Rich.

Poor.

What are the labels

That matter?

Labels that build up,

Bring people together.

Christian.

Poet.

Student.

Friend.

Volunteer.

Put assumptions aside.

Get to know a person

For it's surprising what you might find.

Fallen Tree

Fallen tree

Once so beautiful,

Lay on the ground

For no one to see.

Fallen tree

Once stood tall,

Lay in the shadow

Still a mystery.

Fallen tree

Once loved so,

Still gives off

A hidden glow.

Enough

Disappointment streams down my face

In the form of tears.

Disappointed in myself,

My choices.

It seems I can

Never get it

Just, 

Right.

I'm trying so hard,

But it's never enough,

I try to be better,

But I'm never enough!

I feel the need

To prove myself.

That I'm better than this.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I'm never good enough.

No point in being disappointed in me,

That spot is already taken,

By me.

Absent

Buckling under stress,

I'm drowning in tests,

Assignments,

And work.

Pressure to be

The perfect student.

It's draining.

Gone so much

I can't control it.

I break down in tears

Flowing down my cheeks

In streams.

"I can't handle it,

All this pressure.

It's too much for me to handle."

Writing.

The only thing that

Calms me.

Slows my thoughts.

Helps me think.

"I'm trying to catch up!"

But it's never good enough.

Another wave of work

Comes crashing down

On my sanity.

Abby

Awesome

Beautiful

Bold

worthY

The Power of Knowledge

What if we knew each other

Like we knew ourselves?

Wouldn't there be less conflict?

Less hatred?

And if we knew ourselves?

Less self hatred?

More confidence?

Belief we are worth it?

If we truly knew ourselves,

We could have

More willingness to improve

Our strengths

And weaknesses.

Kaylie

Kind
Authentic
extraordinarY
Lively
Inspiring
Empathetic

Dana

Dependable
Amazing
Nice
Accepting

Lauren

Loyal
Artistic
Unique
Reliable
Empathetic
Nice

Ashley

Amazing
Sisterly
Helpful
Loving
Enjoyable
worthY

Sandblast '16

I told you my story

And you listened.

I told you my struggles

And you prayed with me.

I told you the cause

Of my struggles

And you believed me.

You said I'm not a burden.

And it changed me.

Lightning

Lightning is beautiful.

Many may cower at the sight

As I stand in awe.

Lightning is like people.

Beauty for one second,

Then gone the next

Leaving no trace but a memory.

Lightning is like friendship.

No matter how long a friendship lasts,

The memories are unforgettable

Bringing a smile upon faces.

Fallen Tree

Fallen tree

Once so beautiful,

Lay on the ground

For no one to see.

Fallen tree

Once stood tall,

Lay in the shadow

Still a mystery.

Fallen tree

Once loved so,

Still gives off

A hidden glow.

String of Beads

Life is a string of beads.

Black and white,

Yellow and blue,

Bright and dark.

They all have meaning.

Happy and

Sad,

Problems and

Solutions.

Friends and

Foes.

As a string can be long or short,

The maker can often decide

When their life ends.

They can chop it short,

Or experience more

And let the string of life continue

Until it continues no more.

Because although there can be many dark beads,

There are lighter beads coming.

Hope

I saw the flicker of a light,

It has grown dim.

It's diminishing.

I try to hold on,

Fix my eyes on it,

It fades still.

It's not a flicker any longer.

But a flame.

My eyes lit it

From a flicker

To a flame.

Blue

Surrounded by blue

I'm scratching to keep breathing

But still I'm drowning

Prairie

My home and family.

As I move from one home to another,

I will remember my family.

I will visit them every chance I get.

I will miss them dearly as I go on to whatever's next.

I will remember what I have been taught.

I will remember what has been done for me.

I will remember the great memories.

I will remember my home and family.

I will never forget my family and home.

Nonrenewable Resources

For barbecue

Coal.

In our lives it plays a big role.

For stoves

Natural gas.

This resource should be used last.

For cars

Oil.

There is little in our soil.

Coal over wood.

Natural gas over electricity.

Oil over toil.

What would be left

If we turn our heads

Away from this issue?

I Will Never Take Another Step

You laugh

Louder than

The sound

Of my crying.

You say I

Stabbed you

In the back.

I never meant to.

You say I

Hurt you.

Now I'm

Scared of

Hurting 

Someone 

Else.

You

Say

I've

Crossed

The

Line.

Now

I

Will

Never

Take

Another

Step.

Br"OK"en

"How are you?"

Invisible.

Alone.

Scared.

Depressed.

Stressed.

Exhausted.

Anxious.

Broken.

"OK."

I'm Fine

I'm alone.
But I'm fine.
I'm scared.
But I'm fine.
I'm drowning.
But I'm fine.
I'm hurting.
But I'm fine
I'm hopeless.
But I'm fine.
Truth is,
I'm not fine

Seven

I want to be strong.

I really do.

But these burdens.

Too heavy.

These people.

Too stressful.

This work.

Too much.

This family has had more troubles

Than most do

In a lifetime.

Seven years.

Seven years since it all started.

Seven years since a normal life.

Right?

I am fine.

Right?

I am safe.

Right?

I am okay.

Right?

I am not alone.

Right?

There is another way.

Right?

I can get through this.

Right?

Too Comfortable

Nothing can replace the

Black, mysterious night.

Silence.

Alone.

Freedom.

Peace.

Quiet.

I stumble,

But I refuse to fall,

As I catch myself,

With a split second to spare.

In Loving Memory of Cookie Grandma

Today marks your 92nd birthday.

I wish you were here to celebrate it with me.

You were a sunray,

A loving bay.

I was twelve when you left.

Sixth grade.

Only twenty days until your next birthday.

Eight days 'till mine.

I never got to tell you I loved you.

I had so many chances.

I still didn't when you were dying,

And now for that I'm crying.

Ruth McKellin Peterson

I love you.

Goodbye.

As Long as I'm With You

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

I can't wait 'till our date.

Seven.
Six.
Five.
With you I feel so alive.

Four.

Three.

Two.

Counting the days 'till I see you.

Sunday night

Will be a delight.

To finally see you again.

I don't care who knows,

As long as I'm with you.

I don't care who knows,

As long as I'm with you.

If They Could See Me

If only they could see

How overwhelmed I am

When there are projects due in a couple days and

I'm not ready.

If only they could see

How much I hyperventilate

When I'm stressed

With so much work

And so little time.

If only they could see

How scared I am

Of failing and

Getting kicked out of NJHS.

If only they could see

How hard I try

To keep my GPA up.

If only they could see,

Oh, how I wish they could see me when.

The Thief of Eyes

The thief of the eyes,
The device silently demolishing.

Where are those chirps from?
Look it up.
Why is the sky blue?
Look it up.
Though questions are looked up,
We don't look up.

“Ignore the whispers of the trees!
Ignore the music of the birds!
Ignore the beauty of the flowers!”
The technology screams for attention.

All of the uniqueness.
All of the creativity.
All of the social skills.
All of the communication.
All of it is fading slowly.

Unable to replace the face-to-face.
When it rains
the phone is checked.
When the power goes out
The phone is checked.
Is the power back soon?
Check the phone.

Technology is the thief of the eyes.
The device silently demolishing.

Thank you!

Thank you to the people who come to see my blog! You are awesome!

Be My Valentine

You are as bright as the Sun.

You light a fire in me.

You fill my mind of memories of times we spent together.

You fill me with hope of a future.

You are spectacular.

You are my Superman.

You have an amazing heart.

Will you be my valentine?

Happy Birthday Superman!

The day comes to a close,

And I never want to leave,

But to be with you one more moment.

One more precious moment.

You are there when no one else does.

You care about me for me.

I care about you for you.

I will always be there for you.

This is your corny birthday poem,

But always remember this:

You are Superman,

And I am your Supergirl.

Happy birthday!

Make the First Move

It may be hard,

Believe me, I know.

To tell someone you like them,

It's not as easy as "just go."

But to make the first move,

You might need some encouragement,

So here are some words of wisdom.

Just a hint.

You can do this,

I believe in you.

You can be his,

If you make the first move.

You May Not Know It

You may not know it,

But I like you.

You may not know it,

But you are amazing.

You may not know it,

But you are my superhero.

You may not know it,

But I am always thinking about you.

You may not know it,

But I want to be more.

You may not know it,

But you are my Superman.

Can I be your Supergirl?