“Grandma Lillliane”
Grandma Lilliane, 
Why did you have to leave so soon? 
I didn't get to spend enough time with you
I barely remember what you even looked like
The only thing I remember of you is through memories,
Memories told by the people who loved you the most
They tell me how much you loved me 
Why did that disease have to get you?
Did it know how much it would hurt us? 
It tore you down until you couldn't even move
It made you unable to spend precious time with us 
How is it in heaven?
Did you see any of your family up there? 
I just know you are having an amazing time 
You have no pain or suffering,
I bet you wouldn't even want to come back down here 
Just know that we miss you so much,
We can't wait to see you again
Love, 
Your grieving grandaughter 

Dear grieving grandaughter, 
I’m sorry I had to leave so soon
I wanted to stay long enough to see you grow
I didn't get to meet your brother, although I wish I could have 
The last time I saw you, you were a little girl,
Running into the hospital room to see me
I remember how sad your dad was, 
trying to keep his composure for you 
Just know I’m not suffering anymore
I have no pain or sorrow anymore
I’m in heaven, and yes it is amazing
I've seen so many family and friends 
I promise that I’m so happy up here rejoicing 
Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again
I love you, and all of our family 
Love, 
Grandma Lilliane 

 

 

 

“Back to Being Friends”
Amelia Michael, 10th
How do we go back to being friends?
We broke the rules we once promised we would never bend.
Your light brown hair and big brown eyes, staring right back into mine
I never thought it would end like this, we were only 15

We broke the rules we once promised we would never bend
And somehow in some crazy way I still don’t think our story is at an end
I never thought it would end like this, we were only 15
I never thought in a million years you could be this mean
               
And somehow in some crazy way I still don’t think our story is at an end
As my best friend yells at me, I still find a way to defend 
I never thought in a million years you could be this mean
At the end of it all, you still find some way to make me feel so small

Your light brown hair and big brown eyes, staring right back into mine

At the end of it all, you still find some way to make me feel so small 
As my best friend yells at me, I still find a way to defend 
How do we go back to being friends? 

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“3-Headed Monster”
Kinley Kopec, 10th
Everytime I look at you, I’m hit with fear
Your eyes, once sparkly, are now lit with flames
You were my knight in shining armor, and I was your queen
I thought you had my back, but you were holding the knife
Now you’re the monster, and I’m your victim
And somehow, you’ve switched the roles in your head
You look at me as if I’m a 3-headed monster
But really, you should look at yourself that way
The heads whisper to you truths that you call lies
You can run, but you can't hide

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“Nostalgia”
Kinley Kopec, 10th
Nostalgia is a feeling you could never hate
It may remind you of bad times, or good
But it makes us realize we lived a life worth living
Or it makes us realize everything we’ve overcome
It reminds us that we didn’t give up
And that we’re always gonna miss what we don’t have
Nostalgia is a beautiful, bittersweet feeling

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“The Race”
My mind racing 
My hands shaking
I can't help the rushing adrenaline
I feel the stinging anxiety 

My hands shaking 
I’m walking up to the starting line
I feel the stinging anxiety 
I’m kneeling down with my hands on the ground 

I’m walking up to the starting line 
My body is warming up 
I'm kneeling down with my hands on the ground. 
The gun goes off 

I can't help the rushing adrenaline 
My body warming up 
My mind racing 
The gun goes off 

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“Snow Times!”
The snow, the rain, the cold
We played in the snow
All day everyday
Far from our house

We played in the snow
Until it got dark 
Far from our house
Jackets off, shivering 

Until it got dark
We were making snow angels 
Jacket off, shivering
Time to drink some hot cocoa

The snow, the rain, the cold
All day everyday 
We were making snow angels 
Time to drink some hot cocoa

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“Father” Modeled after “Father” by Hilda Raz
Amelia Michael, 10th
I may be never home, but I still love her
I wish I could tell her, I wish I could kiss my wife
I know how they see me, I wish I could explain
This is the only way I can mask my many scars
Oh the stories they could tell about me
I wish I could put down the bottles 

I tell her not to talk so much because every time she does I feel guilty 
I know they are all terrified when I speak
I know they think that I’m the key piece 
But I have to mask my sadness 
I don’t know how to love, I don’t know if I ever will

We all act the same 
uncles, cousins, the brothers
I know they’re intimidated by the cigar smoke 
In the breakfast nook, The bruises and scars
Never go away

Sitting at the dining table
Feeling my feet against the bell
When I ring it 
an aunt, or mother, or a maid
brings out another dish
from the steaming kitchen

I know I pay for all of it
But none of it matters to me
I try to buy their love
Only because that’s all I know
They think I’m a monster who gives gifts instead of love
I wish I could show how I really feel
I wish they could understand me 
They never will
I hope one day I can change

I know the whole family pretends to love me
I know the spotlight I take up
They’re so afraid of me it hurts
I wish they understood

She stopped visiting me
I wish I caught it sooner
I wish she came home more often

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“To My Best Friend”
Amelia Michael, 10th
Our relationship has never been quite normal 
But despite it all you’re the one person that when you’re around I never have to pretend to be formal 
I’ve always said I love you like I love the color blue
Blue is fun and light, and can sometimes act very bright
Blue is also confusing, and hard to read
Because there are so many different shades and you don’t always know what it needs
That's how I would describe you, like the color blue
You’ve seen me at my worst and at my best 
But still stayed despite the rest
I’ve had my highest highs and lowest lows with you by my side
You’re the one person I’ve never had any pride 
I hate you sometimes, but will always love you more
And despite all our hardships you’re the one person that will never be a bore
So wherever we stand at whatever time 
Just know you will always and forever be a part of my prime 

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“Embracing Change”
As of now, many are in fear
The world has changed this year
But everyone sees it clear
However only few shed a tear

Life in the now is confusing
This world has taken a bruising 
But still some find it amusing 
The action they´ve been refusing

Something needs to be done 
Especially without the guns
Seems like we’re always on the run
And no time for fun 

Despite the world being strange
Even if it seems out of range
There is not need to exchange 
We are able to embrace a change 

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“Never Shall I Forget” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never shall I forget the cloudy evening of August 8th
Never shall I forget the roar of the crowd, voices crashing together like waves
Never shall I forget my sister capturing every moment
Never shall I forget the cast members singing and dancing under the lights, bringing back
nostalgic childhood memories
Never shall I forget the booming music drowning out the rain
Never shall I forget the electrifying joy of seeing my favorite people performing
Never shall I forget how important experiences are, how they carve themselves into you forever
Never shall I forget how little things can bring hundreds of strangers together
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live
Never.

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Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never Shall I forget that dreadful summer day in July
Never Shall I forget the loud crash of the golf cart when we flipped
Never Shall I forget my mother’s reaction when she saw my arm dangling
Never Shall I forget the regret of my eleven-year-old impulsiveness
Never Shall I forget the immense heat from the glaring sun as we entered the trail
Never Shall I forget the realization that I couldn’t play baseball that summer
Never Shall I forget that I was not unbreakable
Never Shall I forget these things as long as I live.
Never

 

 

 

“Christmas Morning” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Claire Dominick, 12th

Never Shall I Forget, 7:00 AM that Christmas morning
Never Shall I Forget, the copious amounts of gifts any 6-year-old would love
Never Shall I Forget, my mom and dad sitting there filming my excitement
Never Shall I Forget, the joy I felt when seeing my new cabbage patch doll
Never Shall I Forget, the white powdery snow that filled the yard and trees outside
Never Shall I Forget, my curiosity when seeing if Santa ate his cookies
Never Shall I Forget, how thankful I was to get so many toys and be so loved
Never Shall I Forget, not wanting the holiday season to be over
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live.
Never.

 

 

 

“Echoes of Christmas Morning” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never shall I forget the tree lights twinkling on Christmas morning. 
Never shall I forget the wrapping paper flying as presents were torn open. 
Never shall I forget my older brother laughing beside me with warm hot chocolate in our hands.
Never shall I forget how Christmas magic feels distant now.
Never shall I forget the snow pressing against the windows and covering the ground. 
Never shall I forget the joy, excitement, and wonder that filled me.
Never shall I forget that I did not realize how much these moments would mean to me now. 
Never shall I forget to carry these memories with me even as we grow older. 
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live. 
Never.

 

 

 

“Never Shall I Forget” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never shall I forget the toxicity of the classroom’s brisk air on an early morning
Never shall I forget the anxiety that ran through my body when I saw the face of evil
Never shall I forget my mother’s expression when she saw tears running out of my eyes, and the
annoyance in her step
Never shall I forget my hopefulness to succeed diminish as the days went on
Never shall I forget the weather changing, smiles stop fading, and days getting easier by the
hour
Never shall I forget the ignorance said to me and frustration that came upon my heart on my
day to day
Never shall I forget the jokes and laughs shared with Olivia
Never shall I forget that setbacks turn into victories
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live
Never.

 

 

 

“Starting New” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never Shall I Forget the afternoon of a dead rain 
Never Shall I Forget the new faces that seemed so unusual
Never Shall I Forget the kindness and welcome of Noah, the only kid I had known 
Never Shall I Forget the new beginning 
Never Shall I Forget the sweet smell of the glassy rain on the ground
Never Shall I Forget the anxiety I felt meeting the team 
Never Shall I Forget my ambition and pride 
Never Shall I Forget the embrace of new connections 
Never Shall I Forget these things as long as I live
Never.

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“Two Homes”
Naomi Simpson, 9th

Two houses, two homes, two kitchens, two phones,
Two couches where I lay, two places that I stay,
Moving, moving here and there, from Monday to Friday I'm everywhere,
Don't get me wrong, it's not that bad
But often times it makes me sad,
I want to live that nuclear life,
With a happy dad and his loving wife,
A picket fence, a shaggy dog,
A fireplace with a burning log,
But it's not real, it's just a dream,
I cannot cry or even scream,
So here I sit with cat number three,
Life would be easy if there were two of me. 

 

 

 

“Recipe for Laziness”
First add in a cup of “I just don’t feel like going”
A tablespoon of exhaustion, and a sprinkle of no motivation 
Mix that in a bowl until you get a dough
Fold in a nice comfortable bed, and tons of schoolwork
Put this in a pan and bake at 450 degrees 
Now, let’s make some icing!
In a bowl add some procrastination, and comfy pjs 
Now whisk that all together 
Now put the icing on top of your dough 
Finally sprinkle on some “I just don’t care”
That is the perfect recipe for laziness 

 

 

 

“Never Shall I Forget That Unforgettable Night” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never shall I forget the late night award ceremony in another state. 
Never shall I forget the bright stage lights shining on my face.
Never shall I forget grabbing the hands of my teammates awaiting the results.
Never shall I forget the years of training that have led to this moment. 
Never shall I forget the heat in the air from all the dancers crammed on the stage. 
Never shall I forget the anxiety and tension building in my chest.
Never shall I forget the weight being lifted off my shoulders and the hard work paying off.
Never shall I forget that I was capable of anything if I put my mind to it. 
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live.
Never.  

 

 

 

“Never Shall I Forget” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Never shall I forget standing beside the high jump pit with my spikes digging into the red track.
Never shall I forget the bar trembling in the standards as I arched over it and the sudden crack of impact when everything went wrong.
Never shall I forget my coach shouting my name as the world spun, the sharp smell of the track and the rough track beneath my back.
Never shall I forget the moment I realized how quickly one jump could change everything.
Never shall I forget the heavy sky hanging gray above the stadium, and the feeling that all the air was gone 
Never shall I forget the fear in my chest and the paralyzing pain rushing through my body.
Never shall I forget  trying to roll over and not being able to move my body 
Never shall I forget being put on a stretcher and feeling detached from my body 
Never shall I forget how that day taught me how fragile strength can be and how brave you must be to keep going.
Never shall I forget the hope that one day I would stand on the runway again, stronger than before.
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live.
Never.

 

 

 

“Never Shall I” Modeled after “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel
Emir Kulyyev, 12th
Never shall I forget those blue and beaming metal monkey bars.
Never shall I forget the blunt and overwhelming pain when I fell face first into the ground.
Never shall I forget how hard I tried to look cool in front of my crush that I liked for months.
Never shall I forget a silly mistake that could've been avoided if not for my lack of foresight. 
Never shall I forget leaping from one monkey bar to the next with my palms burning with friction.
Never shall I forget the sudden loss of all air, and total loss of hearing for that split second after I had slammed into the ground.
Never shall I forget my idiotic drive to impress and obtain status from a mere crush.
Never shall I forget that I don’t need to prove a point or impress anyone, and that true happiness comes from within yourself.
Never shall I forget these things as long as I live.
Never.

 

 

 

“Something I Don’t Know”
Piper Duda, 12th

The curtains will close on this show, 
my world will continue to grow.
But what lies ahead,
so unknown, I dread
it's something that I cannot know.