silence in the house
I let the blanket of it
wash over me

down the street
church bells ring

Maddie Curtin & Madeline Wilson

silence in the house
I let the blanket of it
wash over me

in the quiet stillness—
rejuvenation

Maddie Curtin & Gillian Gernado

silence in the house
I let the blanket of it
wash over me

the feeling of smooth skin
blushed by woolen threads

Maddie Curtin & Morgan Bode

hospital room
the oxygen tank
his only company

third floor cafeteria
a young women sits alone

Joel Ochoa & Madeline Wilson

backyard
I notice
new flowers

day 26 of the Zoloft
I recognize color again

Victoria Stuart & Maddie Curtin

motionless
the doll's eyes
reflect the lonely moon

a slight twitch
she lives to haunt

Michael Hoelting & Rebecca Jaffe

alone in white
I try on
my mother’s dress

understanding in that moment
why he always confuses me for her

Victoria Stuart & Gillian Gernado

alone in white
I try on
my mother’s dress

train flowing
15 years later

Victoria Stuart & Rebecca Jaffe

sun gazing on
the stadium
empty at halftime

what I would do for
one game on that polished turf

Jon Kuebler & Michael Hoelting

all alone
will this last forever?
she asks the winter moon

and in return,
silence

Rebecca Jaffe & Madeline Wilson

all alone
will this last forever?
she asks the winter moon

as it stares back
at your glowing face

Rebecca Jaffe & Jessi Kreder

Mississippi River
much larger than
the last time I saw her

what does she think
of me?

Meghan Hayes & Madeline Wilson

date night
all I hear is
dogs barking

the neighbor's poodle
won't shut up

Michael Hoelting & Rebecca Jaffe

date night
all I hear is
dogs barking

drowned voice clear bark
a never ending night

Michael Hoelting & Victoria Stuart

old man’s kneecaps
knotty oaks
still standing

yet his smile
looks oh so young

Morgan Bode & Jessi Kreder

old city streets
are the ghosts in you
or me?

cobblestone road leads me
deeper into the abyss

Madeline Wilson & Gillian Gernado

heading out the door
I turn to say goodbye—
you're no longer there

every day getting harder
to walk alone

Meghan Hayes & Michael Hoelting

sleepless night
in a bed without you
black hole

distance separating
your sins against me

Maddie Curtin & Jon Kuebler

starry sky
i try to feel
your presence

i am starting to forget
the sound of your voice

Maddie Curtin & Cassie Reed

starry sky
i try to feel
your presence

a whistle of wind passes
it tickles my nose

Maddie Curtin & John DeAngelo

open arms
my mother greets
my fiancé

acceptance
what a wonderful feeling

Benjamin Kuxmann & Cassie Reed

ears ringing
laying my head
on the pillow

gunshots and screams
on repeat in my head

Victoria Stuart & Cassie Reed

grandma’s hands—
liver spot
constellations

her little fingers
finding the big dipper

Gillian Genardo & Joel Ochoa

pressed between
the fresh pages
a worn photo of us

a moment captured
by Kodiak Signet 80

Jessi Kreder & Meghan Hayes

thanksgiving
grandpa snorts
at the table

escaping to break
not proofreading my essay

Rebecca Jaffe & Ben Kuxmann

thanksgiving
grandpa snorts
at the table

but—
just a memory

Rebecca Jaffe & Maddie Curtin

what's your biggest fear?
he asks
a warm hand on my thigh

fingers twitch at the urge
to slap his face

Madeline Wilson & Joel Ochoa

fire burns
so does my
marshmallow

a late November evening
chilling frost traces the leaves

Victoria Stuart & John DeAngelo

when he pulls away
my lips taste like
sugar

my heart skips
one too many beats

Madeline Wilson & Jessi Kreder

playing tag in the
middle of the store
he and I are young again

store clerk gets mad
we fall into each other giggling

Meghan Hayes & Maddie Curtin

dead hitch-hiker
the same haircut
as his mother

cleaning the bedroom
as if he'll come home

Morgan Bode & Ben Kuxmann

pink backpack
in the trunk
his trophy

slithering out of its hole
snake's breath

Victoria Stuart & Jon Kuebler

the zoo
a collection of plush tigers
for protection

still afraid to go home
for people are scarier

Morgan Bode & Michael Hoelting

leafless tree
kids play
in the remains

our modern masterpieces
on display in the condemned factory

Jessi Kreder & Ben Kuxmann

leafless tree
kids play
in the remains

the bark skeleton
a watchful protector

Jessi Kreder & Morgan Bode

blanket wrapped
around shoulders
brother missing

phone vibrates
amber alert

Maddie Curtin & Madeline Wilson

wine elixir
the weight of the world
melts away

he grips my hand
time stops

Madeline Wilson & Meghan Hayes

wine elixir
the weight of the world
melts away

vanishing sun
shadows creeping up my leg

Madeline Wilson & Jon Kuebler

wine elixir
the weight of the world
melts away

an unusual warmth
I might forget that in the morning

Madeline Wilson & John DeAngelo

wine elixir
the weight of the world
melts away

I hold his hand and my glass
cool summer evening

Madeline Wilson & Victoria Stuart

love in the air
surrounded by
sunflowers

his eyes whisper 'forever'
her smile replies

Michael Hoelting & Meghan Hayes

summer camp
I hold a paper bag
full of lemon drops

a hand reaches in
without me realizing

Elizabeth Napier & Joel Ochoa