He Came Home

He Came Home 

by Garrett Johnson

I was afraid...frightened...nervous

Thinking about all the terrible things that could have happened to him.

I thought he might be different in every way.

I wanted to see the changes in him, but then I didn’t.

After enduring so much, how could he be the same person?

Would I recognize him?

How hard had the army been for him?

How much pain did he endure?      

And then I saw him standing there, so proud, so straight.

Who was this person?

I saw his fresh Navy blue military Uniform

I saw the badges and medals shining on his chest

His dark brown eyes burned like fire.

I felt anxious to meet this man that was my brother.

He had changed so much, but it was a good change

He sounded different, more sure.

Gone was the self doubt and questions.

He looked different, bigger.

Gone are the thin arms and legs of yesterday

He was built like a truck.

His calmness reminded me of a clear mountain lake.

He was kinder and wanted to know about my life.

He was more caring and thoughtful

I was nervous meeting this new person.

Humans are afraid of change.

I was afraid...frightened...nervous

He hugged me

And then I realized

He was still my brother who I loved

The National Popularity Contest

The National Popularity Contest

By Greg Roper

The paraded position

of our president

Has totally changed

it’s quite evident

That the whole thing is really

Is just some giant contest

For the people to vote

On the popular-est

Starting with Trump

A gasbag and fluke

But yet he acts

more or less like a duke

He’s running for prez

Although not a politician

While his lead in the polls

reflects the human condition

And soon Kanye West

Running in 2020

Will give true politicians

a run for their money

It seems this position

though quite high in power

is which loudspoken dolt

is the best of the hour

And too many people

Of our united states

Absorb propaganda

that they create

So please, read up

or watch a debate

find who will destroy

and who will create

Find out for yourself

Who is truly the best

don’t elect our leader

through popularity contest

Being Heard

High school is an intimidating place

your first day you don’t know what to expect

Every day I get assignments

I almost never get a break

I try every day

To get up on time

But I was up too late

Because I decided to wait

on writing that essay

mornings are the worst sometimes i can barely open my eyes

wishing I could just sleep

and finish that dream

before I am interrupted by that loud alarm

and when I wake up

It was the school bell

I’ve missed the lesson

and I’m up late again, studying

because I was too tired

to take notes

I try to do things on time

I try not to procrastinate

if you turn in something late

your parents will lay into you

and your grades will quickly drop

as you dig your own grave

and you’re told every day

that you are going to fail

might as well start

working at McDonalds

But I refuse to believe

things won’t get better

and I keep trying

and improving

and learning

so I can sleep relaxed.

What I Know To Be True

What I Know To Be True

There is a lot of danger in the world

Won’t you agree with that too

We have to fight for spots in life

And make big improvements too

But it doesn´t have to be in pain

It doesn’t have to be in violence

It can be with done peace and silence

Love and Care is all we need

All now today is what people think

But it doesn´t matter what people think

Just remember it is what you think

Don´t let those get to your head

The people , Rumors, Social media

Just going for your goals is                              

What I know to be true

                                                          

Wonderstruck

A place filled with wonder

a place that could never do harm

is right by your heart

buried in your arms

Life everlasting

Love forever growing

I’d fallen for your smile

without even knowing

We embarked on a journey

together we stood

in a world full of possibilities

our names engraved in wood

We hit a rough patch

We came across a bump or two

but I know living would be pointless

if I didn’t have you

But you thought differently

you didn’t understand

the way i felt

or the situation at hand

almost as if you didn’t care

or maybe you didn’t know

but later, it was revealed

and you let your true colors show

turned out that we were on different paths

and i took the one less traveled by

even though we had different maps

you followed the stars in the northern sky

needless to say, we found each other

and I hope we never end

if we do, I won’t survive

and my heart surely will never mend