Verrado High schoolspring 2012

volume 1

[Insert Title]Creative Writing and Publications

When we were small we didn’t care The things we had we tried to share You would use my crayons, except My favorite ones that I have kept Remember when off your bike you fell?You said your cuts felt like living hell Then at the end it would be okay Because I would kiss your pains away When we were small we played with cars We played in slippery mud and put bugs in jarsWe picked flowers for mommy And wore some boots that belonged to daddy Remember when dad got in a car crash?When we saw everything and heard a loud smashWe were scared but I took your hand and led you awayYou were quite sad but in the end daddy was okayI never told you that I loved you when we were smallBut I did and still do and will through it all

-Daisy Barraza

When We Were Small

By: Nicole Landress

“$10,000 Baby”

When I leave,Please be safe.Don’t fight at school-don’t lie or cheat.When I leave,respect our mom.You are her$10,000 baby,her pride and joy.So, please,when I go,don’t forget what I saywhen I leave.

but the difference is only shown in those who are willing to fail over and over again until they get there.

The key to a dreamer is simple yet overwhelmingly challenging all at the same time—we never relent. Al-though we are some of the most dejected people on the face of the planet, our will of steel is inextinguishable. Despite that there are few of us left, we make up the mind of many. We are the inspired, the touched, the driven ones; we are the true definition of dejection.

Now the question is: are you brave enough to step out and stand for your dreams in the midst of a complacent society? Are you willing to be spit at, scoffed at—even mocked at for pursuing something higher than “the norm”? I dare you to be bold. Make a difference. Start a revolu-tion. Be a dreamer. I dare you.

By: Kara Clark

The Reality of a Dreamer

“Y ou’ll never get there.”

“That’s impossible.”

“We’d have wings if we were meant to fly.”

Most often when you pursue something of high prestige, that is when you get shot down the most. What would happen if we all took those belittling com-ments to heart? What if we stopped dreaming? Would the world be the same?

You see, dreamers aren’t made in the sky; they’re made in the mud. Merely dreaming is a walk in the park, but giv-ing everything you’ve got to reach it—now that’s a different scenario. Crawl-ing against barbed wire in the pouring rain, scaling the side of a mountain in a thunderstorm, getting sweaty, bruised, and even scarred from attempt af-ter attempt—these are the images associated to a true dreamer. We try, we fail,

loud clap of thunder shattered the eerie silence of thenight. We had to hurry, there wouldn’t be much time left untilthey arrived. I hastily glided into the passenger seat of Clint’s redJeep Wrangler and watched him slide the key into the ignition.The car seemed to choke and gasp for air as it failed to start. Hemuttered under his breath and tried again, this time the car roaredto life. The car slammed into reverse and peeled out of the driveway.I watched Clint; I had never seen him this way. I had neverseen him so frightened. A bead of sweat formed on his foreheadand danced its way down his tanned yet pink face. Watching him,I suddenly realized what a horrifying situation we were now in.Goosebumps covered my legs. Terrified, my breathing becameshort and shallow. My vision blurred slightly as the Wranglerrounded a sharp corner. “Clint, please slow down, you’re scaring me!” I gasped.The trees on either side of the road seemed distorted and fuzzy.“I can’t slow down Sam, if I slow down they’ll find us. Just closeyour eyes, I’ll keep you safe.” He didn’t sound confident, but thenhis voice strengthened and he whispered to me, “I will always keepyou safe.” Hearing his promise reassured me of all the things that Imight have been questioning. Just as I turned to watch the roadahead of us, rain began to pour down out of the sky like bulletsraining down on a battlefield. The path ahead became harder tosee with each passing minute. Lightning cascaded across the skylike a fireworks show on the Fourth of July. I closed my eyes andprayed that we would both still be alive at the end of the night.A train whistle sounded from somewhere in the distance. Clintreached over and took my hand in his. Just as our fingers intertwined,red and blue flashes illuminated the night sky behind us.They were gaining on us quickly. Clint slammed his foot downharder on the gas pedal. Even with our increased speed, theyseemed to instantly recover any distance they may have lost. Thetrain tracks were in sight despite the heavy downpour of the floodfrom the clouds above. As we approached the crossing, the trainwhistle sounded again,

A Tracks

and I could see the big black locomotive’s imminent arrival wouldbe much too soon. “If we could just make it before the trainblocks our path, we can lose them! Sam, I think we’re going tomake it!” He looked at me with such excitement that all I could dowas murmur three simple words. “I love you.” “I love you too Samantha.” Clint once again crashed his foot hard into the gas pedal.Our front wheels were on the tracks now. My eyes widened as Irealized that we weren’t going to make it across. The next thirtyseconds moved in slow motion. Clint must have realized that wewere only seconds away from impact because in a blink of an eye,he let go of the steering wheel and took his foot off the pedal.He threw his gallant masculine body on top of mine. He didn’teven bother to glance back at me. The train struck us and sentthe car spinning. As the car catapulted through the air, our bodiestwisted into positions I never thought imaginable. My left shouldercrashed through the front windshield and shards of glass raineddown all around. I hit the cement road with a thud and watchedthe car crash into a giant oak tree. In less than a second the car wasengulfed in flames. He was willing to sacrifice his life in attempt tokeep me safe. It’s true what they say, that your entire life flashes before youreyes before you die. Or at least the important parts do. I saw thefirst time I ever met Clint. He was in the park playing football witha group of his college friends. I placed my finger in the center ofthe book I was reading to mark my place as I watched him. Hewore khaki pants and a green polo shirt. Strands of his dark brownhair were sticking out of place, but nonetheless he looked majesticstanding in the middle of that green park. He noticed me watchinghim and began to walk my way, grinning. It was all I could doto keep from staring at him. Next, I saw Clint kneeling down onone knee. His eyes were sparkling with tears that he felt necessaryto hold back while he lifted a small diamond ring to my finger. Noone approved of our engagement, so we went down to the localcourthouse and recited our vows there. To me, it was still a beautifuland magical wedding. The last thing that I saw was Stella’s coldlifeless face as Clint and I dropped her into a shallow grave deep inthe woods. Then the world went black. By: Ashley Bland

Love After AllBy: Macayla Skelton

The first look she took of him was of disgust. Not sure what to think or who to believe, she wanted what she wanted, and that was that. The Appaloosa gelding only wanted someone to love him, not that he wasn’t being loved, but there’s a difference between an elderly man and a little girl’s love. This thirteen year-old girl was very set on what breed she wanted and he was not it. When she left the yard, she was left wondering if she had made the right choice. She felt guilty as this horse named Obediah looked at her with those big, round, brown eyes fill-ing with water, as if he were about to cry. Pulling the strings of her little heart, she decided to give him a chance. She swung her leg over his large, bear like body. He wouldn’t move; with every little push and nudge to make him go, he just grounded his hooves into the uneven dirt and would not budge. Angry as the little girl could be, she said, “forget it”. She tried later on that night and found out that Obediah (Obey), had an abscess hoof. She started to cry, not knowing what to do or where to turn because it had been a whole year of searching for a giant beast. She felt as if it would never end. Relying on God to work everything out, she be-gan to pray about the whole situation. As always, he did work it out and made it known that she should take Obey off the hands of this elderly man. So she did and ended up saving his life for a while longer because he had a disease that was making his spine twist and shutting off the airway to his lungs. With the money we gave him, he was able to pay his medi-cal bills and live. The thirteen year old girl was still not completely thrilled about owning Obediah and

wasn’t sure how everything was going to work out. Every day, as the sun beamed off her window, she would rise up and go feed her new boy horse. He always gave her a little snicker the second she stepped foot out the door. It made her feel like a part of him, like he wanted her around. Over the years, she began to grow close to the beast she called her horse and was never the same after an accident she had on him. Sixteen stitches later, Obediah did everything in his will power to protect her and let her know that he was sorry. That was more than she could ask for from him, and they have been best friends ever since. The sun and wind on her face, running as far as she wants to and how ever fast she wants to is something you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else but on top of her horse. The dark brown Appaloosa and the thirteen year old girl have a bond now, like peanut butter and jelly; inseparable. That thirteen year old girl who once didn’t know what she wanted is now sev-enteen and is very sure that she couldn’t have asked for a better horse in her entire life. That girl is me, and that horse, Obediah, is my night in shining ar-mor. The sun and wind on my face, running as far as I want, and as fast as I want to, is something you wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else but on top of my four legged beast I call my horse.

Hard Work

Hard work is a necessity Perseverance is a mustBusy as a bee Is what you will bePrepareTo win you would have had toWork diligentlyWithout it nothing goes your wayYou work for what you wantYou get it when you have worked hardBut first you must know what you wantWithout knowing Nothing is achieved

“Perseverance”

By: Jamie Pinson

The SeaAshleigh Verzino

sometimes the open sea is calm

the water glistens in the sunand the soft waves wash the beaches

like a mother does to her childrenridding them of the bad

making them the best they can bebeautifully pampered to perfection

but this is not always the casesometimes

the waves crash constructivelyconveying the anger

of being taken advantage of people taking its delicacies

the fish, the whales, the pearlsand running off

as if they were their own.

Dear Cooper, I cannot for the life of me believe that it’s already been five months since you’ve been gone. May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. It’s not fair that the young, caring, big hearted boy we all knew was sent up and away so quick. It is so true, you really don’t know how special someone is till you lose them. I miss you every single day Coo-per Courtney, we all do, even those who didn’t know you. We’ve all missed hearing your voice from across the halls, seeing your million dollar smile that made everyone else smile, and feeling you warm hugs. I know that you’re watching and walking with us all still to this day Coop, your presence will never leave, I know you are up there watching us make mistakes, and doing things to make you smile every single day. You’ve been a friend to many, a brother to few, and a son to two. I can honestly say that not one memory we’ve had looking back wasn’t good, except for the times you’d tell me things I didn’t want to hear, but now I know why. We’ve all taken life for granted so much, and you’ve shown me and so many others a whole new way of living. I’m really sorry I never went to that football game of yours Cooper, and I’m sorry for never going out and riding with you that weekend. I’ve missed you every minute since you’ve left. I miss walking into to class with you shouting out how beautiful I looked one day; I think we all miss the little things you gave us Cooper. It’s insane to think that you’re last words to me were, “Good-bye beautiful.” If only I would have known that was the last goodbye I’d ever hear from you buddy. I’m no longer upset with God for the fact the he took you from us, I have come to realize that it was just your time, and you were needed somewhere else. Though your time here with us all was short, you’ve provided memories we will carry for a lifetime. I have faith that I’ll be seeing you again sometime, until then keep riding up in heaven Coop. All my love- Elise Chiquete

Dear Cooper, I cannot for the life of me believe that it’s already been five months since you’ve been gone. May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. It’s not fair that the young, caring, big hearted boy we all knew was sent up and away so quick. It is so true, you really don’t know how special someone is till you lose them. I miss you every single day Cooper Courtney, we all do, even those who didn’t know you. We’ve all missed hearing your voice from across the halls, seeing your million dollar smile that made everyone else smile, and feeling your warm hugs. I know that you’re watching and walking with us all still to this day Coop, your presence will never leave, I know you are up there watching us make mistakes, and doing things to make you smile every single day. You’ve been a friend to many, a brother to few, and a son to two. I can honestly say that not one memory we’ve had looking back wasn’t good, except for the times you’d tell me things I didn’t want to hear, but now I know why. We’ve all taken life for granted so much, and you’ve shown me and so many others a whole new way of living. I’m really sorry I never went to that football game of yours Cooper, and I’m sorry for never going out and riding with you that weekend. I’ve missed you every minute since you’ve left. I miss walking into class with you shouting out how beautiful I looked one day; I think we all miss the little things you gave us Cooper. It’s insane to think that your last words to me were, “Goodbye beautiful.” If only I would have known that was the last goodbye I’d ever hear from you buddy. I’m no longer upset with God for that fact that he took you from us. I have come to realize that it was just your time, and you were needed somewhere else. Though your time here with us all was short, you’ve provided memories we will carry for a lifetime. I have faith that I’ll be seeing you again sometime. Until then keep riding up in heaven Coop. All my love- Elise Chiquete

V.M. (A tale of sadness)By Chris Nichols

A single tearSlowly trickles down my face

Eyes staring bitter and sadThen I clasp fingers over them

As if to seal the sight before me awayA sob slowly escaping.

Then I turnStumbling, shakily away

From the ruins of the campMy heart slowly rotting in my chest

I keep moving, losing notice of the worldThen stumbling, falling to my knees

I try to hold it backBut it bursts

The tears flowing from my faceDripping faintly and slowly to the groundAs if they themselves feel the pain I feel

While I slowly plunge into darkness.

But, before it fully engulfs meA small tug

A gentle caressA soothing voice bringing me back

As I look aboutAnd a gentle smile engulfs my face.

Life of Happy BlissBy Chris Nichols

Life, full of unwanted strifeGiven only to those that wishYet, easily taken, simply plucked awayIf one stays joyful, it stays.

Happiness, is needed to keep itWithout it you dig a shallow graveStay blissful, yet mellow tooFor too much, could leadTo everyone hating you.

Soldier in the Sand

By:

My sand pail was filled to the brim with the enemy. “It’s time to go!”, my mother called, a scratch against the ocean breeze. My pruny toes clenched the grainy ground like a white knuckled fist on a steering wheel, cementing my 8-year-old stature to the ground in violent protest. With my shovel and my pail, my shield and my spear, I was a warrior along the shores of death-or, a slightly polluted coast with a small sand crab population-but I, was a warrior, and this, was my battle, and those!-those evil claws laced with vengeance and sea urchin destruction-those were my enemies. I sighed, dropping my bucket but never letting go of my dig-nity. I went to eat my PB & J and Capri Sun and refueled, a soldier’s feast.

Marisa Morales

Excerpt from: The Key To My Heart

By:Raelin Warren

Every step Shay took towards the opening of the mountain felt like

dead weight. The ride to Abaddon had been a blur, as if he were half

asleep and wide awake at the same time. Why did his insides feel so turned

around? This was his job, his duty. He had done it before and felt nothing.

He was inside the mountain now and could hear the worshipers with their

scratchy voices and dark chants. He did not understand the language

in which they spoke, but he could feel the power in the black words. He

continued through the mountain until he reached the throne room doors.

As if the worshipers could sense him outside, the chanting stopped. This

abrupt change always made Shay feel nervous, no matter how many times

he had been here.

The door slowly swung open, its silent hinges made Shay queasy, but

he took a step forward and stood just inside the door frame. “Kneel Shay

Zethra Son of the Fatherless.” Shay felt his energy drain and knelt to the

ground. His head always felt dizzy when the Key Snatcher spoke. “My Lord,”

he said, “I have brought you the key of Tabetha Divin of Tendalous. It has

taken me many months to locate it, but it is now yours for the taking.” Shay

knelt there and began to tremble. “Come closer Shay Zethra.” Shay did not

wish to go any further than the door, but he could not disobey.

“As my Lord wishes.” He stood and walked into the dimly lit room.

There was a shaft of light that hit the center of the room giving it a grim

feeling. He slowly walked toward the throne; everything inside him felt like

it was on fire. By the time he ascended the step that stood next to where

the Key Snatcher sat, he could barely catch his breath. Never before had he

been so close to the master of the mountain. The power was overwhelming.

The light did not show much of the Key Snatcher and the only light that

shon e on him exposed his hands, hands that looked decrepit and evil. Shay

watched as the left hand twitched then slowly turned palm up waiting for

the key to be placed in the center.

Shay lifted the key in the air. It felt heavy and lethargic. The key

dangled above the open palm; everything stood still. Shay could hear the

thumping of blood in his ears. He closed his eyes and let go of the key. A

gushing wind threw him off the stairs onto the cold floor. He looked up

at the throne which now held a beautiful creature, not quite human not

quite mystical, but it was an evil beauty. The once decrepit hands were now

young and glowing. If Shay had not been there himself he would not have

believed that the form that now stood before him was the Key Snatcher.

Shay quickly laid down flat on the floor in a worshiping position.

“Arise son of the Fatherless.” Though he was beautiful his voice

sounded like scratching metal hurting Shay’s ears. It took all of him not

to reach up and cover them. “You have done well, but… I have heard that

you took your time getting this key.” The Key Snatcher held the key up to

the light. Shay stifled a gasp; it no longer glimmered and sparkled with

silver, but was black. “There were even rumors that you had… feelings for

this girl.” When he said this it was as if there was a bad taste in his mouth.

Shay’s chest tightened. “My Lord surely you jest, how could a man with no

heart have feelings for someone?” There was a silence. “And yet…” said

the Key Snatcher, “it has happened before.” “My Lord?” “You have proven

yourself worthy before Shay, and for that I shall believe what you say is

true. You may go.” “Thank you, My Lord.” Shay bowed deeply and walked

backward out of the dim room.

It wasn’t until he was outside of the mountain that he could

breathe again. He began to gag and ran to a nearby tree and was sick. He

crumpled to the ground and began to cry, his body quaking. “What have I

done! If you were really there El Roi you would have stopped me! I love her!

Look what you have done!” He screamed and punched the tree not caring

when the blood came. “Bradley… he’ll know how to fix this.”

By: Ashleigh Verzino

Enjoy LifeWhen people are happyThey glow like the sunIt is like looking into a bright lightEnjoying life is what they are doingLife is a one-time shotLook at life and extend it to Your wishesAs long as you wantYou decide he happiest thing

You can do in your lifeIs lay in the grass And watch the day pass.

The whispering winds singSongs in your earWhile you lay thereWithout any fear.

The universe surgesIts all mighty majestySprinkling the soft sunOn your fragile limbs

You take in the sunAnd it nurtures your soulBringing you to life once moreFrom your very core.

Flowerchild T

By: Jamie Pinson

Reminiscing of the PastWhen I first laid my eyes upon her, I noticed how extremely beautiful she was, like a cherry blossom glistening in the

morning dew. She was a magnet to me. My heart jumped and expanded when I spent time with her. When I was

around her I felt as if gravity itself had turned against me, while the world was all left behind. She is the one who brightened my day and gave me joy with every little

thing.

Oh how I miss those days…

By: Kelvin Park

Her hair is brown like bark.Her eyes, the deepest Shade Of Blue.Birds fly around her like a halo.Her body is made of green grass, Soon to be dead, brown grass.She’s dying.We must help her.We must save her.Before it’s too late.

MotherBy: Kailie Mallett

The first thing I remember was waking up in the dark. I reached into my pocket and found my mini flashlight. I turned it on and discovered that I was in an abandoned mine. I was confused, wondering how I ended up in here. I knew it was not a dream, because my arm was burning from the huge scrape on it. I must have fallen into the mine. I looked up and noticed a hole in the roof of the mine that must have lead to the outside world, where I had fallen in through. All I had with me was a mini flashlight, an extra pair of socks, dental floss, a set of keys, and a huge bag of pretzels. I felt like a convict in prison when my head began to flow with millions of ideas of what to do with my useless items. I first tied my flashlight to the top of my hat with the dental floss. I got up and started to walk through-out the mine and felt that I would never find a way out. It was hot and hard to breathe. I used the clean socks to wipe the sweat off my face. I got hungry and thirsty after about an hour of walking.

I eventually found a cantine with what seemed to be water in it. The cantine had the name “Dave” on it, written in marker. I imagined Dave as a well-respected miner who at least knew his way out of there, and had left a cantine down there in case some idiot would have fallen down the mine shaft and gotten thirsty. I knew I would probably be in the mine for a while before I found a way out or got rescued, so I was conservative with my water and pretzels. After my lunch break, I got back up and began to walk around again. I remembered I had my set of keys with me so I pulled them out and began to rattle them to make noise, in an effort to hopefully be heard by someone. My ridiculous plan worked when I heard footsteps about 100 feet in front of me. The path of the mine curved and I saw a huge shadow against the wall and someone was walking towards me just around the corner, with a lantern in his hand. I ran towards the man and yelled, “Help!” The man had his name patched on his uniform and it said “Dave”. I looked at him in relief and told him I had been stuck down here for what felt like days. He did not seem to care about my adventure in the mine when he looked at me with a smile on his face and said, “You found my cantine!”

By: Joseph Jimenez

The Ball is in Your Court! By: Kalyn WarnerI am like a player running down the court at full speedWith only one goal in mind;To win without greedTo accomplish my goals I will do whatever it takes

The ball that I dribble in this hand is like my futureI don’t have to keep looking at itIt’s always there; with a steady careSometimes the ball gets taken away; But that only makes me fight harder to get it backAnd when I get it back, it may not feel the sameBecause our future can always change

Coaches screaming from left to rightLike your parents nagging in your earThey only want to help youEven if it isn’t what you want to hearThey push you to do your bestAnd you feel there is no time for rest

The defenders coming at me are like the road blocks of lifeI can make my way around them,Or get knocked downAnd when life knocks you down; You must not frownBecause the only thing you can do is get back up

The ball is in your courtDo with it what you please;Your future depends on itAnd if you play your game rightYour future will be a breeze!

HOLDING DOWN TIME By: Samantha machado

Holding Down TimeIt never slows down; timeAnd it’s never the same; changeA Perfect example is an old ancient treeEventually everything touches the face of deathYou will soon realize that reality isn’t fauxIt’s so valuable, just like a precious necklace

You can see the future in my precious necklaceIt is staring you right in the face; timeWhether it’s true or fauxYou want to hold time down, but it wants to changeWanting to do everything before you touch deathEverything reaches death like an old ancient tree

But it has seen how it’s never the same, the ancient treeSeeing how precious it is, like a necklaceWho knows if life itself will ever reach deathBut as for right now, I’m running out of it; timeHaving to accept, that everything and everyone changeYou don’t want to see it, but reality isn’t faux

Although I wish some things were fauxBut just like the ancient tree

I’m sitting with this tree just watching changeI wish I could have everything in my precious necklace

I would be able to turn back or freeze timeOr just make it go forward until I touch death

DeathNow that’s something that isn’t faux

One day it will be everyone’s timeEver for an old ancient tree

Something valuable doesn’t die, like a precious necklaceNow death’s something you can’t change

Change Death

And a valuable precious necklaceAll these things are things that aren’t faux

Everyone knows this, even a living ancient treeEven trees reach their time

Time is just something that changesJust like an ancient tree everyone reaches death

Reality isn’t faux, even if it is a precious necklace

I remember the darkness all the time.Everything around me begins to change.I want to be strong like the dinosaur.I smile, but it’s just a faux.All I have left is a heart shaped necklace.I hold this begotten necklace.I wish it could bring me back in time.I am tired of these people who are all faux.My body ages but I will not change;I smile as I see my good friend Death.Now hear my roar like the great mighty dinosaur.My heart begins to fade. Soon it will be gone like a dinosaur.My memory fades. It is broken and forgotten like my necklace.My life seems empty but in reality it is full of death.I am running low on everything soon I will be out of time.The one thing that everyone is subjected to is change.What is real in a world made faux?Is our life real or is it just a faux?Everything has been beaten even the mighty dinosaur.There is nothing that is not subject to change,not even my heart shaped necklace.How do we escape death?When is he not faux?Death wins all the time.Death has taken the dinosaur.He holds it on his skull necklace;soon everything will change.We all move and make the world change.We are all subjected to the same fate called death.He holds the world on a chain like a necklace;that skeleton figure is not faux.He will beat us just like he beat the dinosaur.He has nothing but time.

We all face time and we are forever in changeForgotten without a name like the dinosaur sweeping over everything is death.This world is a faux we are all tied to a blood stained necklace.

[Reality]

Today my class went on a poem walk.I noticed some people love to talk.On our walk, I noticed a town surrounded by mountains,There was also a desert, but no drinking fountains.Outside there was a bird that looked so free.He chirped and chirped to show he felt glee.The distant sounds of cars driving byAnd a plane that made me wish I could fly.The sun was shining bright,And there were no clouds in sight.We walked back inside and sat in front of a black curtain, I heard music playing with an instrument not certain.From there we walked to the cafe where a smell was in the air.It was the smell of fresh food, from which I love to share.We walked through the empty hallsOf the E wing, where there were colorful murals on the walls.Our teacher said we had to be very quiet,Classes were going on and we didn’t want to start a riot.After, we walked back up the stairs to our last stop.The catwalk, where many things can be seen atop.On the cat walk, the school looked empty.I knew in a few minutes it would be filled with students a plenty.This was the end of our poem walkNow everyone is sad, and no one wants to talk.

Walk Poem By: Monique Arreola

Love? By:

Monique ArreoLA

Howcan you

love some-one elseif you

don’t loveyourself?

you DoBy: nicoLe LAnDress

You do youSo let me be

and I’ll do me.

ALL ABout Me[PoeMs]

“Don’t let them fool ya, Or even try to school ya! Oh, no! We’ve got a mind of our own, So go to hell if what you’re thinking is not right! Love would never leave us alone, A-yin the darkness there must come out to light.”I sit on my plumeria board, eyes closed humming my favorite song as I caress the ripples of the ocean with the palm of my hand. Some say you can feel the ocean and read it as if feeling the beat of someone’s heart by placing the palm of your hand upon their chest; I place my hand on the chest of the ocean, each beat meaning a new swell coming in. The wind breathing in my ears and wooshing through my hair; it’s time. Today was the day of the reported swell and timing was every-thing. I start paddling my way further and further out, splashing my hands with the water. I sit back up and scan the area; I start feeling a pull that is dragging me closer and closer to the building wave. I pad-dle in closer and quickly whip the nose of my board so it was facing the beach. Laying down I begin to paddle again. The wave begins to lift my board and this was my cue to start paddling as hard as I could. I feel the tug from the wave and I’m up on my two feet gliding down the monstrous wall of water. Its enormous mouth chasing behind me to swallow me whole and spit me out. I ride and carve the wave, sculpt-ing it like a piece of art. Somehow at that very moment, when one wrong move, one slip of the foot and loss of balance, risking my life, I was in peace and my body was numb. I was at one with the wave; connected. It was as if my body knew where to go and how to move; guided. I had dominated and proven that the impossible was possible.

Surfer Girl By: Loren Rivas

I Have To Tell You Something!By: Daisy BarrazaWell there is something I have got to sayI have to ask that you will not be madYou see, I did something the other dayI didn’t think to look at what I hadAbout two days ago in the restroomI thought I had my toothbrush in my handsIt felt a little odd, strange I assumedAnd looked down and saw its little blue bandI screamed and realized it wasn’t mineSo I cleaned it and put it back aside I thought I’d tell you and it would be fineWhen I realized it was yours. I had cried Now I am here in front of you todayI was worried about what I could say

T

My Home By: Kailie Mallett

T his dream what shall I make?Is it deep as the darkest lake?Is it as shallow as the meadow’s pond?Or something that I’m very fond?

Dreams are full of magic;As happy as well as tragic.They seem to fly away,Or stop like a tired cliche.

From the ocean’s hue to skies of blueDreams flew like they were past dueAnd our hearts are left wantingWhen our minds are done haunting

he stage urgently calls my name.It wants me to come to my fame.The spotlight begs for me to stand in its path.It tells me to come to it and leave my math.The costumes yearn to be worn by me.It wants the whole world to see.The seats plead to be occupied.The theater will not be denied.I am coming home.

Wonder By: Bryan Lazar

Everyone has that one person.

The person they care about more than anything.In the end there’s always

a lesson.When that person ends up

failing,It hurts you on the

inside.But in the end you still

aren’t done,Even if that person lied.

Because that person is the one.

By: Kelvin Park

The One

You’ll never see my bones.Elegant collars, lean limbs, sculptedCalves; nothin’ like this-“don’t breathe now honey,get ‘em buttoned!”-bottom of Mine.Perfect by designRed, yellow, blue blood pumping through these Latin veins; Divine.Child bearing handles(storages of love,my mama would say)With every sway of hips; curve,Girl, you go on and sway(Why model?)You’ll never see my bones.But you’ll see a Womanwho no longer kills herselfOver whetherOr notYou can seeHer Bones.

We’re beautiful.

Bones by Marisa Morales

So here I am, senior yearThis is my fateTwo semesters that I spent in Speech and DebateBut if asked if I liked school, I would be lying If I said yesBecause all it is, is tests and unnecessary stressBut something about Vernier’s class Stuck out from the restHe always made me feel welcome, like more than A guestYou see, I have never been one to get into school TopicsBut his teaching was so clear, instead of illusions So opticSo thanks man, for making high school so EnjoyableTeaching me life lessons, thus making me more EmployableSo as senior year ends, I know I have had some Good timesInstitutionalized, writing names and dates on Dotted linesBut I want to make it clear like a glass lenseI wrote this for Vernier, and all my good friendsClass of 2012I am just glad we graduate before the world ends

By: Jason Baumgartner

Journey

is hands were clammy. The rough side of the match box rubbing against his index finger made him realize what he was about to do. He pushed all of his feelings out and opened the box. One match, one swipe, one drop, was all it took. In his mind, the house was on fire before the match was lit.

the boy.

H

By: Ashleigh Verzino

CancerCancer. It doesn’t care who you are. It will take every part of your being; your mind, your body, your heart. It will break you until you have nothing left to give. But I like to say that my mommy is the only person who could ever scare cancer.

My mom is the strongest person I know. When she found out she had cancer, it shook her, but she never fell. The doctors say she doesn’t have long - a few weeks, a few months maybe. But I believe with all my heart that she will make it to graduation, and to see her grandson born.

My mother can make it through anything. She is my rock, my provider, my best friend. She still keeps a smile on her face everyday and refuses to let it bring her down. And as my mom approaches chemo, I know she’ll say. “Screw you cancer, I beat you.” She is in the process of climbing her own mountain. And as she reaches the top of her mountain, she WILL raise her hands in victory.

It will take every part of your being; your mind, your body, your heart.

“ “

By: Hannah Joy Mills

Life is a prehistoric rockThat withers and erodes from time.

It is a mistThat slowly falters and fades to dust.

But the mark we leaveOn planet earth time cannot rust!

Corruption cannot reachThe destruction of our only hope—

Justice, love, and mercyTime cannot prevail.

Turning TablesBy: Kara Clark

I hear his feet coming towards me.My body shrivels up in fear.Hell’s gates have openedAnd there I stand.

I can feel it in my gut.There is nowhere to run,And there is nowhere to hide.Tears blur my vision,I look up to the sky.I shout to whoever can hear me,And ask them why.Hell’s gates have openedAnd there I stand.

His breath burns my noseAnd a lump rises in my throat.All hope has disappeared,There’s nothing that will help me now.Hell’s gates have opened,And there I stand.

Day after day I live in this hellAnd day after day I wish for something more.I look beyond the gates of hellAnd I gaze up at the stars.Oh how I wish that this would end,But then I see a tiny light in this darkened abyss.And it’s enough to reawaken my hope.Hell’s gates have opened And there I stand.I turn my back.And walk away.There is a brighter futureThat is yet to come.

-Andrea Ratcliff

Hell’s Gates

There is always an alpha,The one that is known as the leaderHe is wise,He is able to destroyHe is able to heal.Most learn to be scared of him, living in fear.

Living in fearOf the alpha,Even though he is known to heal,As a powerful leaderHe still has the strength to destroy .To listen to him would be wise.

For those who follow the one that is wise,Do not have to live in fear.Those he trusts he shall not destroy,For he is the alpha,He is the leader,Those he trusts he shall heal.

The Alpha By: Michael Quiros

He shall heal,Those who are wise.Do not disregard the leader.For then you’ll have something to fear.He is not to be fooled for he is the alpha.If you anger him he shall destroy.

In anger he will de-stroy.In happy times he will heal.For he is the alpha,For he is wise,For he creates fear,For he is the mighty leader.

The mighty leaderCan destroy.Raising fearCan healThose who are wise.

Follow the alpha, who is the leader,He is the wise one, who can destroy,Who can heal, he is one to fear.

It Is what It wants!It takes what It needs!It cares not for you or for me!It Is hate!! hate!! hate!!!

the evIl devoured!the devIl’s only frIend.from the pIt of hell It erupts,to consume whomev-er It fInds.

of hIm the harpers sadly sIngBy: Bryan lazar

In gloomy perpetual veIlIn mIsty mysterIous mIndshIdes the hIdeous monstrosItythat plagues man-kInd.

the evIl that lurks underneath,what only a soul can see,hIdden so carefully,comes out as a fear-some dragon.

It's In the mInd you see! only In the mInd It hIdes!But It comes as a roarIng lIon!a maraudIng Beast!It Is the scourge of humanIty!It Is the flesh!

Our Voice We sit wanting to be heard in our words. Mak-ing them loud enough to be heard. We take the time to take our pencil and brush them into our own art we call words. Different colors are brought out in each piece of writing, our voice.

We sit waiting for our creativity to be read. Making them loud enough for all to hear. We take our pencils and brush them against our own canvas, creat-ing a piece of art we call words. Some use the colors of yellow. the bright scene of happiness, and others take their brush and spread the colors of gray and black. Take a step back and see each emotion that is being expressed. Our art is as much as we put into it.

By: Kayleana Bull

My life started its journey to the descent of my first sin.And therefore, unbaptized as I was, I could have stayed there and been in Limbo. I saw with the world for what I could do with the apple of my eye and not a moment too soon, I started with my ex-cessive gluttony and the untimely death my mother had brought upon the family. I stood in the light of pure beauty when I first met her. She was the love of my life, as one night I promised to keep our love with no betrayal. Through the years in my earthly father’s house, he prepared many banquets with large amounts of food and wine. Though I knew not of his gatherings, I enjoyed it ‘till my stomach was bloated. Life was of the essence between my beloved and I but as it were, I fought for the Crusades during that time. May my so called “valiant triumphs” never be remembered from the Crusades. It was in 1289 when the Fall of Tripoli inter-twined with my sin. Along the path I walked, I found not one but many souls I endured with either death, lust, or greed. War can always change a person, no matter what they do or what the cost is. From the first sin I committed, it felt easier as I fell into dark-ness. My body was like that of a carnivorous creature and my soul condemned to the lower rings of hell. The love for my Beatrice was unending and painful after the betrayal. No human realizes the sins when they commit them at certain times. My human na-ture is the same as anyone else’s; hiding in darkness and willing to kill in the name of God was what we all did. Time and time again I recall the screams of my enemies and innocents killed, but not as painful as the betrayal I caused with Beatrice.

PassatoCanto 1: The Start of my sinful nature

Timothy Beacham

StaticBy: Lori Chavez

Loud, or quiet,Angry, or sad,Everyone can relate,Whether it’s good or bad.

Pictures and feelings,Memories and thoughts,Sometimes can be healing,Without me? – Probably not.

I am fun and original,Always up to beat,My words will make you want to,Get up and on your feet.

I have no shame,I say what I want,That’s the way I play the game,If you don’t like me;Turn me off.

Knowing

Life’s MomentsBy: Hannah Joy Mills

Life Is a thing. One here. T e next . Are we all- ? W

here or ,or how will sink like an anchor or ri

se

like t

he su

n. W

hen

will

it

?

Prec

ious

Mom

ent

Not

Knowing

When

It

Will

End

I am from summers playing water ballFrom pink and purpleFrom laughing with my friendsI am from long walks with MidnightFrom carefree bike ridesFrom falling forts in the woods.

I am from Christmas cookies with my momFrom tattling on Paul and KeithFrom running errands with my dadI am from tearful goodbyes and joyful reunionsFrom anger and sadnessFrom high spirits and optimism.

I am from the old and the newFrom yesterday and todayFrom their memories and my own.

I am from the past and matured memories, but I am living for the future -Kayla Dent

Becoming You

Inside It’s a War ZoneBy:Nichaela Fuller

My heart achesMy mind’s been shot with the slowness of death Yet, so quickly, it approachesI can’t keep upI’m falling down

Writhing on the ground“Come back for me” I whisper“Come back for me one day”When the chaos has been washed awayOnce the truth has been set free

Peace will rise in the sky and shineShine sun star shine!But by then I’ll be on the shore withNo air to sustain meI gave the last of it for you to survive

The hope that you’d rescue me is subsidingMy lungs await the inflation of lifeWhen will you breathe it back into me?When will you let me leave this purgatory?Take away this darkness before it’s too late

Only YouIt is time,That gives us change.It is the memories That scares death.Make it real, not faux.Hold the memories on your mind.It is an aged mind,With memories, secrets, and time.It is as real as can be with a faux;It was given without a change.From death to death, With just one thing to transfer memories.Keep it with all memories All this seeks is to hold onto your aged mindLet deathNot be a fright and just sing with time, And form into the change.Don’t live with faux.If you love with faux, You never live with memories; And for the change,It is the necklace With ticking timeThat will soon reach death. So don’t let death,Create a faux, Because it is timeThat kills memories Hold onto your aged mind Without the thought of change. It is you who controls change.It is you that can kill the dwelling of death.It is you to hold onto your aged mind.It is you to not be a faux. It is you that relives memories. It is you that looks past time. Ignore time, let change be change.Live memories and rename death. Real to faux, and this is becomes your aged mind.

By: Monica Quintana

nn

I’ve always been waitingFor someone to set me free,Don’t open my cage,Just give me the key.Happiness, just a whisp of smoke,No more real than an untold joke. Wishing, wanting,But all it’s done is haunt meLike a ghost. My heart no longer wanders,Now it’s safe at home, Beating in my chest,Hard against the bone.Still wanting the escape,Knowing it’s unreal,Waiting, wanting, wishing,For the moment of release.

Shadows

By: Lori Chavez

Brett Bezio

To be as lost as wind and driven madis such a shame when all are ‘round to see.

They make a fool—a mistress ‘twere it clad—of madness, zeal, and passion; virtues free.

And I was longing skies afar to see and paintwithin my dreams; the grays, the blues, the blacks.A storm of beauty; wondrous, blest, and quaint;

A foreign rain uncommon, unblemished.

The beauty which I see by man condemned.There’s so much beauty in a storm—.

My dif’rence sets me ‘part my fellow man,For such must I depart, voyage unknown.

Somewhere will be my resting place anon,And someday they won’t know to where I’ve gone.

Blesséd Storm: A Sonnet

Brett Bezio

Every time I enter a room, I am taken by the scent you left in the threads of my clothing and the stitching of my

skin. My hands smell radiantly of your delicate skin and aromatic lotions;

and although your presence lingers and fills my senses, I find myself miss-ing you during the tender hours of the evening. When effort is given, I can still feel the grazing of your lips upon mine,

the pressure of your resting hand on my chest, and the tickles of your fin-gers on my face. I know this to be a

work of a phantom, but the lack of your being here is like a moment leading

to a kiss—the memory of kisses prior calling to the stage a one-act play of another (one hopefully well-received

and deserving of an encore)—and so I will wait eagerly for your return.

Linger Brett Bezio

That Morning

I woke up that morning and I didn’t seeyou by my side.And I woke up that morning and I realized I’dmade the biggest mistake of my whole life.I woke up that morning and I let out the biggest cry,The biggest cry of my whole life.I know that the pain that was,caused to you wasall my fault.And I know that there’s one thingthat I’d like to say,say to you.And I know that the one thingthat I’d like to say is,I’m sorry.I’m sorry for the pain I put you through,And sorry for the things that I said to you.You’re gone-not for now but for, forever.And it kills me.It kills me to see you, behind those bars.It kills me to know that, I can’t do anything to save you.I woke up that morning and I didn’t seeyou by my side.And I woke up that morning and I realized I’dmade the biggest mistake of my whole life.I woke up that morning and I let out the biggest cry,The biggest cry of my whole life.

By: Brian Way

You alone can save meThe way you smileOnly sheCan break me from these evil bondsThe bonds of being alone and songs of LonelinessShe is the redemption for me.

I hope you hear me cryI hope you see me sighI need you to keep me alivePlease come save me

If you hear my cryI promise you a lifeWhere you will be truly happyAnd I’ll hold you so tightlyPlease, oh please, come save me

My love is for you and you aloneMy heart can be touched by only your songYou will make my life completePlease, oh please, come save me

I see your eyes and they bring me to my kneesI can’t believe you see straight through meHere you are and now I ask you Please, oh please, don’t leave me

PleaseBy Alex Torrez

Sitting all alone in this E-wing class was a new student hoping it would end fastMy name is Kenna let ’s be friends That is where it all begins Sleepovers and shopping and fun galore I had a friendlike never beforeWhere ever Tessa was you knew you wouldfind meShe even gave me a necklace with a lock and key We laughed and cried and time flew by Knowing high school would soon end We made a pact to always be friends When I move and I’m gone I will remember all the memories we shared I will never forget my friend that cared Our last three months are finally here Thinking about losing my friend could make me shed a tearBut I will always look back on the times in my past I befriended the new girlSitting in the E-wing class

Kenna Rino

Friends Forever!

tars are massive. They hover in the sky with such elegance, with such distance be-tween them and I. Yet they seem petty; so small they give the illusion that if you reach out to them, they’ll slip right between your fingers. I remember kneeling before a pool of water one November evening. The stars were reflected with delightful clarity. I felt I was peering down at the majestic heavens. I reached into the water and I watched the stars dance; I witnessed the glitter slip between my fingers, and I marveled at this. Momentarily I believed I could manipu-late the universe, but it was only of a reflection that I had any control.

S

ReflectionsBy: Brett Bezio