Short Verse Edition

Love in the Air
(About a Fallen Slipper)

If what I speak of is the air, do I then speak of nothing?

But please do listen with some care. I speak to you of one so fair
whose tenderness can still the air (by merely doing nothing).

Is that a frown upon her face that rips my soul asunder?
And have I fallen from her grace to perish for a blunder?

My life's love bears my life's hate within her breast... and torments her with every breath
but finds relief just as a spark of hope released ignites the dark.

The twinkle in my eyes does fade like embers of a waning fire...my heartbeat slows... my soul retires...
but she revives me with her gaze...and with her smile...and with her wave
to her sweet scent I am a slave, I contemplate and wonder...
how good the air must be up there where angels brush their golden hair
where cupid's arrow isn't fair--when it's spell you are under.
My lovely lady to you I say:
If your honey tongue but would impart...
a salutation in the dark...it would be day within my heart.

-- Ikenna Agbim


haiku

Today, birds dance high
As I the lake circled by;
Yesterday, they cried.

--Raj Badrinauth

Paradoxes

Plain for all to see,
puzzle and perplex me.

Searching, looking, questioning—why?
Only to have reason defied.

Paradoxes abounding mightily
Remind me of life’s countless mysteries
And how truly little we know
from up above and below.

--Raj Badrinauth

Young

If you believe you are
Always going to get older forever,
Then you are always young.

--Jose L. Torres & Ms. Bond

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Why do you laugh and taunt me?
Why do you seem to sneer?
Why does your heart hate me?
Why do you despise me near?
Why do you make them laugh at me?
Why do you make me cry?
How come you never smile at me?
Why would you want me to die?
How come you can’t be friends with me?
Why should I be your target, when you formulate a lie?
What did I ever do to you?
What did I ever say?
How will I ever forget my agony all throughout the day?

My family loves me for who I am, they fill my heart with joy.
My friends, they like my company, the even share their toys.
I know that I am different, but is that all that you see?
I have so many qualities that me me so unique.
So forget the questions that I asked, for I need not your response.
For if you were to be my friend you’d surely feel remorse.

--S. Cineus

What’s a coach to do?

When I was young, I played baseball and my coach would tell me, “Swing level, Alex!”
Then when I played football, my coach told me, “wrap’em up when you tackle, Alex!”
Each of these coaches helped me improve my game.
I have a new coach now.
This coach advises me about how and when to use controversial topics
such as “stative verbs,” he gives me ample resources so I can amend my rookie perils.
My new coach is hard on his players when he has to be
and gives them uplifting encouragement when morale is down.
As much as my baseball and football coaches tried to assist me in pubescent athletic endeavors,
there suggestions don’t resonate within my daily thoughts now days.
The astute pearls of wisdom bestowed upon me by my present coach
have led me to success and happiness.
Under the tutelage of my present coach, my delivery is much better.
I have more confidence when I am at the plate, and my follow-through is strong and level.
And when I fall to the side I know my coach is going to be right there,
to tell me how to tighten up my game.

--anonymous

Curricular Circus

Now it is Knowledge Core
For students to soar!
What happened to S.F.A.,
can you say?
Balanced literacy: A dream?
So it would seem!
Teaching science gives me faith,
for 302 faculty is great!
Reach the “core”, we must!
Let us dig deep past the crust!

--C. Drepaul

Untitled

Certain of little else than failure
He wanders on hoping to find
Moments that bring light into his dim
cavern
Life is the lesson to learn
Ever kept in his mind
Memories of the good the great and
better
Days now turn to nights
He is stalked by shadows
Dark castings of the past promised to
trail
Behind until alas he has freed his mind
Of those thoughts which anchor him
To the seas whipping waves
Until he frees himself from the cage
By his mind he is enslaved

--Adam J. Lee

Nobody Ever Brings Me Joy

Nobody ever brings me joy the way you do.
And I can never spend the rest of my life without you.
The things you do ever since you came into my life:
You made my heart complete.
I didn’t know love was so sweet.
Look what you’ve done to my life:
You made it complete.
When you love somebody you can share anything,
Because you understand and you’ll be right there--
Anytime, anyplace.
When you love someone
You could be all they need.
And if they cry, you will be right by their side
Until they get everything right.
I thank you for bringing me
Joy into my life.

--Sabija Mallison

Sleep

middle of the night
can’t sleep
can’t sleep.
drive to the beach
windows down
freezing air
leave the car running
emptiness
dead of night
stand naked on the car hood
feet burning
hands freezing
hours and hours before sunset
put a cigarette out on my arm
not a sound
wind and rain
freezing cold
waves crashing
headlights off, car off
dark clouds
lightning
walking naked on freezing wet sand
sand in my hair
rain in my eyes

--Jeffrey Mintz

Y Nunca Era

El sol nacio
gritando y llorando
y nunca era

--Jeffrey Mintz

Solitary

S l o w l y
So you could see it
Falling

Drip
drip
drip
Silent-ly
To not disturb you
Yet trying to move
Your conscience a bit.

N e a t l y
To not disrupt the flow
Yet sloppily filling the void of

Emptiness.

Do you see that sometimes all that is needed
Is a hug?

--Reyna Reid

N/A?
You wouldn’t know
The in betweens of love and hate
Like a blizzard of snow
You are blinded from fate.
Your superstitious soul is trapped
And the doors have just been locked.
So what will you do?
Surrender to them
Demolish the earth with everyone you hold dear
Will you look the other way?
Smile at the passing of death
Hoping that it will not stop for you,
Well at least not for today.
Will you carry the flag?
Drink from the cup of life?
Will you be you?
Or would you just be another face in the crowd?

--Reyna Reid

So Much

I want you to know so much
that you can’t tell all my secrets
if you speak until the end of time.

--Huuti Scutt

Teachers are the Sculptors of Young Lives

Teachers are the sculptors of young lives.
How fortunate our child was shaped by you!
A year in your class taught him how to study,
No longer lost in thoughts that he finds new,
Knowing now the paths each thought derives.

Your love and strong solicitude embody
Other virtues our child has tried on, too.
Under your good guidance hope survives.

--Yinhuan Wang

Thank You for Being Such a Good Friend

Thank you for being such a good friend.
How you put up with me I’ll never know:
An awfully big heart and a fuse that is slow?
Nothing I broke was too shattered to mend.
Kids know good teachers by the stars in their eyes.
You had those stars by the dozens and more.
Open your heart and you open a door.
Under your love are my free, clear blue skies.

--Yinhuan Wang

Thank You for Opening a Door for Me

Thank you for opening a door for me,
Having the desire to share your joy.
A teacher gives much more than thought and skill,
Nor is her heart the least she might employ,
Knowing well the rules of ecstasy.

You are yourself the lesson we deploy,
Owning all the passion of your will,
Unraveling in ourselves your mystery.

--Yinhuan Wang