1

first heartbreak
mom says to
get him back

Rachel Nott (7)

2

new neighbors
shoveling snow—
one breaks the ice

Melis Barutcu (6)

3

orchestra concert . . .
the first time
our hands touch

Melis Barutcu

4

moving away
dad tells me
to call anytime

Melis Barutcu (4)

5

happy birthday
i need you 
to bail me out 

Rachel Nott (6)

6

misty streetlights
we drive an hour 
for fast food 

Rachel Nott (6)

7

sleepover at grandma’s
my sofa-bed
already made

Matt Kordesh (11)

8

my first-grade teacher
her hair
gone gray

Matt Kordesh (8)

9

campus construction
nails hammered
in pace of my steps

10

automatic dishwasher 
the daughter 
with pruned fingers

Maliyah Battle (4)

11

out of order
a tune I didn't choose
knows me best

Maliyah Battle (3)

12

cousin’s wedding
the kid's table
in their late 20s

Matt Kordesh (8)

13

skin, bones, gristle
unchoice cuts
make up fragrant broth

14

party of dust bunnies 
underneath 
the credenza

15

empty couch 
he chooses 
the spot next to mine 

Ava Zukowski (4)

16

coffee run 
he knows 
what I want

Ava Zukowski (5)

17

petrichor—
streetlamp reflected
off the pavement

Dan Mungons

18

spider spreads its net
over
my doorway

Dan Mungons (4)

19

after her passing
the marriage certificate to
the back of the filing cabinet

20

car stakeout
behind the windshield
a kiss

Natalie Mase (6)

21

practicing piano
the birds
sing a duet

Natalie Mase (5)

22

unsent love letters
my desk drawer
receives them all

23

a tailor
the lone crane
adjusting his feathers

Charlie Armstrong (6)

24

morning dew
grass bends
under gentle weight

Charlie Armstrong (7)

25

November rain
empty swing
gently sways

Katelyn Wendt (6)

26

winding down
the road
comes to a fork

27

tuning up
the ring of a cell phone
slightly flat

Melis Barutcu (3)

28

crinkled paper
the words in my head
look wrong on paper

29

California breeze
the pines whisper
back and forth

30

keyboard clicks
the familiar rhythm
of my password

Katelyn Wendt (68)

31

one more week
just need to make it
one more week

Izzy Jones (8)

32

Turkey Trot
my brain says
that cancels out the food

Izzy Jones (4)

33

the commons couch
offers refuge
another student sleeps

Dayton Lasack (6)

34

flour spread on the counter 
kneading 
a quiet love

Gracie Shaffer (5)

35

mid-November 
warm enough 
for my favorite t shirt

36

as i vent 
he takes out the trash 
true love

Charley Condill (4)

37

i’m empty-handed 
but he opens the door 
all i do is walk

Charley Condill

38

creaking from the hallway 
heart racing 
brother’s home

39

old gravestone 
melting into the ground 
one-of-a-kind

40

no school!
the children
track snow into the house

Caroline Arnold (3)

41

coming home
the house smells of lemons
mom's day off

Maliyah Battle (7)

42

the moon peeking 
from behind the clouds
slow dancing

Rachel Nott (6)

43

karaoke night
Sexy Back
by Justin Timberlake

Matt Kordesh (8)

44

they ask me 
if I’m okay
allergies

45

lying blue sky
I regret going outside
without a coat

46

queue outside
the food pantry
dripping cold rain

Randy Brooks (6)

47

the last leaf
winter
has taken the rest

48

every day
opening the car door
a simple gesture

Abby Wilken

49

pomegranate cut open
seeds everywhere—
I tell you soul wishes

Bella Palermo (4)

50

letter from my younger self
do your best
and have fun

Katelyn Wendt (6)

51

103 degree fever
you’re not too afraid
to be near

Bella Palermo (4)