first year
without grandma
we drive far away

from the memories
left behind

Naomi Klingbeil & Alissa Kanturek

long Thanksgiving table
stretching to reach
grandma’s hand

warm
to the touch

Randy Brooks & Alissa Kanturek

newborn
watching us put up
the Christmas tree

the lights
in her eyes

Jenesi Moore & Alissa Kanturek

fresh coffee
he smiles
i get the creamer

“we should talk”
he says when I turn my back

Mary Callaghan & Daria Koon

moonlight bends
i hold your hand
you pull away

a mourning dove coos
from the bare tree
Kukai 5,

Hannah Ottenfield & Daria Koon

the glow of fairy lights
for once
I read a book of my own choice

power flickers out
there goes that dream

Isabella Spiritoso & Daria Koon

senior prom
only member of the group
without a date

I put on a smile
as they slow dance

Haley Vemmer & Emily Sullins

asleep on the couch
warmed by the glow
of a freshly decorated tree

she dreams
of a white Christmas

Isabella Spiritoso & Emily Sullins

Christmas Eve
we huddle around
“A Christmas Story”

marshmallows swim
in our hot cocoa

Daria Koon & Emily Sullins

cobblestone porch
the dream
we used to have

the storm door
rattles in the wind

Hannah Haedike & Haley Vemmer

a beautiful garden 
lies behind
a brick wall

piece by piece
she lets him in

Rachel Pevehouse & Haley Vemmer

airport layover
the old couple
sipping black coffee

businessmen complain that
their flight is delayed

Logan Bader & Haley Vemmer

running
down the lawn
ice cream truck

. . . I trip
over rocks

Emily Sullins & Hannah Haedike

brother’s girlfriend
a new
big sister

missing my place
by his side

Isabella Loutfi & Hannah Haedike

muffled music
I fix my hair
in the restroom mirror

smudged lipstick
and spilt beer

Sydney Rudny & Hannah Haedike

not even remembering
the reason I said
I hate you

i type out
"i'm sorry"

Hannah Haedike & Hannah Ottenfeld

rock bottom
i turn to the moon
for advice

she has nothing
to say

Alissa Kanturek & Hannah Ottenfeld

refund check
deposit on Wednesday
I get to eat

I buy ramen noodles
and easy mac

Sophie Kibiger & Isabella Loutfi

wilted flowers
next to your photo
one year

next year
I can throw them away

Rachel Pevehouse & Isabella Loutfi

ringpop
playground proposal
forever and ever

twenty years later,
a new ring

Jenesi Moore & Isabella Loutfi

cleaning our apartment
so many 
socks under the couch

one snowflake sock
from Mom’s last Christmas

Zach McReynolds & Isabella Spiritoso

break up
he hides
the ring box 

in his back pocket
still hope

Emily Sullins & Isabella Spiritoso

brother’s girlfriend
a new
big sister

toilet paper stuck
to her boot

Isabella Loutfi & Randy Brooks

concrete ocean
sailing to yet another
feast

his fork claims
the last piece of ham

Zachary McReynolds & Randy Brooks

all my relatives
ask the same questions
about school

a second helping
of dressing

Sydney Rudny & Randy Brooks

corner bakery
red daisies
in the window-box

smiles and smells
quaint town square

Emily Sullins & Jenesi Moore

crescent moon
above the waves
sand in between toes

curly hair whisk
soft temple kiss

Logan Bader& Jenesi Moore

stay out of the garage
daddy's busy with buddies
and beer cans

chainsaw accident
sirens too far, too late

Naomi Klingbeil & Jenesi Moore

tea kettle whistles
in harmony with
the howling wind

on the couch
holding hands

Haley Vemmer & Logan Bader

leaving the test
thinking about
changing my major

I hear mom’s voice saying
“remember why you started.”

Haley Vemmer & Logan Bader

9 carrots
treats
for santa’s reindeer

the next morning each carrot
has identical bites out of them

Hannah Haedike & Mary Callaghan

cleaning our apartment
so many
socks under the couch

not a single one of them
is mine

Zachary McReynolds & Mary Callaghan

first Christmas
his tie
slightly crooked

by the end of the night
it has been taken off

Sophie Kibiger & Mary Callaghan

bad news
daughter buries her face
into dad's shoulder

he carries her home
dim moonlight

Logan Bader & Melanie Wilson

corner bakery
red daisies
in the window-box

yellow lab runs by
with a tail of destruction

Emily Sullins & Melanie Wilson

my sister's step
quickens
sundown

on the playground
young boys yell

Mary Callaghan & Melanie Wilson

he throws back another
one too many
liquid courage

he approaches the girl
“you’re in my math class, right?

Sydney Rudny & Naomi Klingbeil

restless night
stomach knots
i’m on another planet

i wish tomorrow
would be over already

Jordan Niebuhr & Naomi Klingbeil

a B cup
telling me
i’m not a woman

3 hours later
he asks for dirty pictures

Hannah Haedike & Naomi Klingbeil

august sunset
working up the courage
to hold her hand

august sunset
waiting for the first move

Sophie Kibiger& Rachel Pevehouse

a soft breeze
brushing my baby curls 
tickling my neck

i close my eyes
it almost feels like your touch

Mary Callaghan & Rachel Pevehouse

not even remembering
the reason I said
I hate you

knowing it’s too late
to say I’m sorry

Hannah Haedike & Rachel Pevehouse

haven't seen my cousin
in a year
she plays on Snapchat

now I know
how grandma feels

Sydney Rudny & Sophie Kibiger

Thanksgiving Saturday
grandma's moving a lot
slower this year

I make sure to give her
an extra hug

Daria Koon & Sophie Kibiger

Thanksgiving 
no one touches
my brussels sprouts

oh well
more for me!

Emily Sullins & Sophie Kibiger

repeated wedding bells
grandma has more rings
than Saturn

that woman really
gets around

Jenesi Moore & Sydney Rudny

accidentally kicking
the man
stealing my leg room

by accident
I mean on purpose

Haley Vemmer & Sydney Rudny

last guest leaves
last cup of coffee
with dad

conversation of old memories
and simpler times

Hannah Ottenfeld & Sydney Rudny

dinner time
my dog guards
the food table

the cat jumps up
where he can’t see

Haley Vemmer & Zachary McReynolds

an eye roll
grandma can’t comprehend
the rules to catch phrase

we play go fish
instead

Sydney Rudny & Zachary McReynolds

how’s school?
where’s the boy?
major change again

“Haha, fine, HAH,
not here, yeah, it wasn’t for me”

Mary Callaghan & Zachary McReynolds