1

i ask about his
scars
he pours a coffee

iced
only kind he will drink

Nick Laramee & Jake Pietryk

2

the solitude
I craved
hurts more than anything

she sleeps to cope
my heart throbs with emptiness

Austin Medina & Tanya Vaughn

3

he walks along
a wooded path
no end in sight

this circle of life
feeling so redundant

Jacey Centola & Tanesha Williams

4

one oreo
left in the pouch
who did this?

the two siblings argue
about who knows what

Nick Laramee & Maddie Schroeder

5

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

when you open your eyes
everything will be different

Tanesha Williams & Austin Medina

6

hiding behind
this screen
like everyone else

my sheets keeps
me covered

Maddie Schroeder & Leana Temple

7

training wheels rolling
dad’s hand
lets go

I ride my bike
for the first time

Nick Laramee & Jacey Centola

8

home plate
ball goes past
the catchers mitt

home team roars
tying run steals third

Jacey Centola & Jake Pietryk

9

walking on eggshells . . .
will you approve?
am I messing up?

I can’t read your reactions
I’ve never been so anxious

Maddie Schroeder & Austin Medina

10

drained and exhausted
ready to sleep
Good Night

can’t fall asleep
tomorrow will be rough

Tanesha Williams & Austin Medina

11

wet sidewalk
muddy garden
crocs

one croc
stuck in the mud

Leana Temple & Jacey Centola

12

anxiety—
the buzzing bees
inside my chest

everything will be okay—
she is capable of anything

Tanesha Williams & Maddie Schroeder

13

she sits on her bed
swinging her feet
my heart warms

pigtails bounce
missing her two front teeth

Tanesha Williams & Tanya Vaughn

14

birds talking
to each other
through the branches

a fun game
of telephone

Caitlyn Kesler & Tanesha Williams

15

quickened heartbeats
I Love You —
those three little words

as he walks by I notice
it was all just my imagination

Tanesha Williams & Maddie Schroeder

16

full day planned
he says he’ll pick me up
but never shows

new mini skirt
Impromptu night out

Jacey Centola & Leana Temple

17

can’t say goodbye
holding onto him . . .military
will I see him again?

he waves from the bus
kids, it will be okay

Jacey Centola & Tanya Vaughn

18

early morning
foggy
where's the car?

could have sworn
i parked over there!

Jacey Centola & Jake Pietryk

19

hopping
lily pad to lily pad
ribbit

she tries
to find her calling

Jake Pietryk & Tanesha Williams

20

walking on eggshells . . .
will you approve?
am I messing us up?

or am I thinking too much
why do I do this?

Maddie Schroeder & Leana Temple

21

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

she barks at them
on her way back

Tanya Vaughn & Jacey Centola