coming home
feeling like an intruder
in my own bedroom

Maya Dougherty (11)

I pull into the driveway
my parents
waiting on the front porch

Alex Pratt (5)

family gathered around
the kitchen table
catching up

first thought as I go home
free food
and money

Kalli Farmer (3)

the smell of grass
houses stand side by side
home

sliced in half by the river
outlined by a sidewalk
with sprinkles of trees

night falls on the trail
we head home
for some cheeseburgers

Alex Herrera (5)

corn on either side
I wanna see
the ocean

Madeline Delano (8)

driver's seat
he hums
to my song

Madeline Delano (6)

fresh noodles
trickling down my esophagus
my Naperville favorite

I turn the corner
of Boxwood Drive
my dog's eyes in the window

Trey DeLuna (8)

emerging from quiet
to bustling crowds
Chicago

Masha Kostic (2)

crumpled cans
hidden
our little secret, Dad

meeting old friends
catching up
over cheap coffee

back home
flickering streetlight
still doesn't work

Lucas Chatterton (4)

hiding in the attic
my brother's blue eyes
gave seen too much

front door opens
my golden retriever
showers me in kisses

orange sun sets
across the lake
family barbecue

Benjamin Maynard (3)

hugging my father
I realize
he lost weight

car packed, ready to go
turn the key—
gas light flashes

Lane Casper (2)

aggressively battling
in the bitter cold
thumb war

Mia Klek (6)

warm fall day
four old friends
laugh on the porch swing

it doesn't feel right
packing a suitcase
to go home

flowers
on the casket
You're gonna go far, kid

Madeline Delano (12)

opening my eyes
to the smell of kacamak
I know who made breakfast

Masha Kostic

three bicycles
nestled in a rack
quietly rest

Austin Taylor (3)

home for a weekend
do I choose
mom or dad

Lucas Chatterton (8)

mother and daughter
in the corner booth
awaiting their pizza

after the slumber party
an open pizza box
only grease stains left

Georgia Martindale (4)

Mother gone
house in shambles
her little brother's new keeper

1:00 in the morning
head crashes down on the pillow
good to be home

Benjamin Maynard (3)

garden walk
my heart stops
when I see our spot

coming home late
mom waited up
i tell her about my night

mediocre craftsmanship
from the heart
priceles

marriage proposal
in the gazebo
she doesn't show

looking through
old photographs
the old me is a stranger

playing hooky
we laugh together
on the fire escape

Lane Casper (3)

careful aim
he takes the shot
wedding photographer

sitting in jail
going nowhere
snake eyes

Benjamin Maynard (7)

walking through campus
I flash a crooked smile
an old friend

a tiny sprout
grows from a crack
between bricks

Georgia Martindale (7)

a rattling blue van
drives past
gasoline fumes

Georgia Martindale (2)

homecoming weekend
wondering which home
is home

blue balloons
the firetruck sirens
begin the parade

the whistle blows
for the Homecoming
first kick

sitting on the sidewalk
candy hits me
homecoming parade

deserted campus
I have to work
homework weekend

football game
fans boo
John Mayer plays in my ears

Mackenzie Martin (2)

painting for the parade
more ends up on my hands
than on the float

sitting on the smooth bench
talking to Abraham Lincoln
people watching

a bowl of salsa
my chip
breaks in half

Madeline Delano (8)

my favorite chinese take-out
we curl up on the couch
family movie night

morning coffee
I wonder if
he thinks of me

Grandma's sloppy joes
made by me
not the same

Benjamin Maynard (4)

oatmeal for breakfast
two classes cancelled
a good day

Masha Kostic (3)

the smell of coffee
tempts me
no flex in my account

he sprinkles the cheese
atop the pizza
enlightenment

light peers through the door
hiding place found
Who's it?

dancing in the wind
a flaming dress
the candle

Masha Kostic (5)

little buns lined up
oozing cinnamon everywhere
shiny swirls of glaze

Masha Kostic (4)

stormy skies
layers of blankets
Harry Potter

Mackenzie Martin (6)

lunch date with friends
she tells them
the news

she touches her necklace
remembering
what used to be

sun sets behind the mountains
the fire
is no more

microbiology lab
I rub my tired eyes
with contaminated hands

Austin Taylor (6)

leaving my phone
on a bench to shower
cracked screen

Austin Taylor (2)

sitting on the metal stairs
I stand up
red ridges form

three little fingers
wiggling
under my door

Masha Kostic (5)

unopened jar hides quietly
devoured the next day
three possible suspects

Masha Kostic (2)

an hour left
of practice
she spills the ball cart

a salad for lunch
chicken for dinner
12 oreos

Madeline Delano (4)

ninety degrees
my farmer's tan
darkens

outside     alone at last
headphones in
c'est la vie

Saturday mornings
surrounded by flowers
coffee in the garden

train horn
icy breeze against
my warm cheek

Trey DeLuna (5)

large oak
standing in the forest
waiting for no one

overgrown branches
smell of fresh air
my friends trail behind

Alex Herrera (2)

the gentle breeze
touches everyone
without judgement

Maya Dougherty (5)

breezy fall night
counting every star
lying next to the brightest one

Mia Klek (6)

meadow of smooth rocks
a litter of cigarette butts
wedged in the middle

the mom sobbing
a child placed
in her arms for the first time

pockets full of posies
my hungry friends
fall down

Mackenzie Martin (6)

leaves crunching
underfoot
sweater weather

slow song
my date puts his hands
on my shoulders

spoken words
bounce off the heads
of yawning students

Trey DeLuna (8)

didn't get the job
long wait
for the bus

cute boy in class
try to be discreet
flash goes off

Maya Dougherty (6)