Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 10

Lincolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

Grade 9

Delphos Jefferson High School

Teacher: Mrs. Vera White

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Grade 12

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 10

St. Marys High School

Teacher: Mrs. Ruane

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 10

Delphos St. John High School

Teacher: Sr. Valerie Schneider

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 10

Loncolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

Grade 10

Lincolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 12

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 10

Delphos St. John High School

Teacher: Sr. Valerie Schneider

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 10

Lincolnview igh School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Miss Finke

Grade 11

Lincolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The time of year has come

To take things down

And close up the building.

As the young children are

Running out of school

They only think about playing

Outside with their friends.

Swimming, playing, and watching

Television are the things they love

To do.

They only like doing all the things they love to

Do when school's out.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

I am a Mexican American

and proud of who I am.

I am a Mexican, who loves

to learn about my culture.

The music and dance of my

father's homeland is romantic and joyous.

To learn of my family's history

Makes me proud to be a Mexican.

I am also an American who

loves the American way of life.

I love my American diversity.

I am a biracial child,

and I am proud of who I am.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

A night that broke my heart in two

My dad made a choice that hurt us all

He no longer wanted to live in our house

The most hurtful feeling--he broke a Heavenly Law

He left us for another woman

He broke that marriage tie

I was upset--he had lied all of the time

Worst of all was watching my mother and brother cry

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

I hear the chorus, the clear, crisp chorus;

Ninety voices, four parts in perfect time

Yes, they've practiced but talent is their core.

A new song I hear, the melody climbs

Higher and higher beautiful to the ear

Like velvet, rich, pure vibrato sounds out

Acapella she sings without any fear.

Her voice, slippery and smooth, steady and stout.

Swinging in the show choir, smiles bright

Singing and dancing all at once looks sharp

A novelty piece, funny and light

Soprano voice, glides up and down, as a harp

Singing fills me, with an unspeakable joy

It wells up and bursts out, forever will I enjoy.

Grade 10

Lincolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

I woke up from the noise

That came from my house.

I was like a cat in the field

Hunting for a mouse.

I think I know where it is,

OVER HERE, OVER THERE!

Then I realize

It is everywhere.

I think I'm going crazy

I'm losing my mind.

Then guess what I find

A little cricket

And he's all mine

SQUASH!

Grade 9

Delphos Jefferson High School

Teacher: Mrs. Vera White

Ride on my cowboy; ride,

Long on into the night,

For soon you will be home by my side.

Ride on into the open; stretching so wide,

Follow the path made by the moon shining so bright,

Ride on my cowboy; ride.

Go through the night with my heart as your guide,

Feel safe this night, with the world in sight,

For soon you will be home by my side.

Ride on bravely, by the tide,

Although the wind's fierce, fight,

Ride on my cowboy; ride.

Come home before daybreak, for I know you've tried,

I wait on the porch, seeing by the moon's light,

For soon you will be home by my side.

Ride on fearless, full of pride,

Within the birds protective flight,

Ride on my cowboy; ride.

For soon you will be home by my side.

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

To some baseball may seem a little dumb

Guys who just throw a ball and chew gum

But it really is a great game

Not just a lot of glory and fame

You really have to use your brain

And it is filled with joy and pain

Things like pick-off moves and pitching form

Others like batting technique, the norm

Then there's things like singles and strikeouts

To home runs and great pitching bouts

And if you still think it shouldn't be America's pastime

Then grab a bat and glove, you'll have a good time.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Barbie

beautiful, sweet

modeling, sleeping, talking

airy, dumb, skillful, intelligent

killing, hunting, slaughtering

rigid, harsh

G.I. Joe

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

A baby is very innocent,

He does not have a choice.

He can't protest and fight to live,

He can't speak for himself, but he should have a voice.

He won't get to take his first breath of air

And it doesn't bother you.

Why should it?

You don't even care.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Above, a stretch of eternal sky falls into a deep slumber

Wishing to its reflection upon the water good-night

With a splash of golden hues that slowly fade into a brilliant violet and then a royal midnight blue.

The stars are like silver jewels caught in the web of night--

Precious gems touchable only to the fingers of the cosmos.

On the glass pond below, the massive mouth of a catfish

Snatches an innocent water spider gliding effortlessly along from the water's surface,

Sending a series of waves rippling across the smooth water.

The breeze through the cattails sets the mood for a symphony, nature's own masterpiece.

The beat is set with the drumming of a woodpecker upon a birch tree.

A loud and steady bass line sung by the bullfrogs echoes through the night.

Toads living amongst the rocks at the water's edge join in the melody

And a songbird perched in a nearby willow tree chirps a harmony.

Blossoming daisies, almost hidden from view in the towering grass

Dance joyously to the rhythm of the tune

And a great horned owl in the distance hoots its applause.

How rich and famous Mother Nature would be if she was human.

Not only is she the greatest painter of all time and a world-renowned composer

She also is an experienced doctor, soothing the troubled mind.

Grade 12

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Blackest Despair

Deepest Sorrow

Intense, Overwhelming

Burning Shadows

Souls screaming for escape

Over and over again

Never will it stop

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

I'm sorry, car.

I had no time to change your oil

And it is too cold to refresh your shine.

I just had to slam on your brakes

When that guy pulled out in front of me.

I'm sorry for taking turns too fast

And making you work hard.

I had to see how much power you have.

I'm sorry, car, for ripping out your radio,

But you sound much better with a CD player.

I'm sorry, car.

Will you forgive me?

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The soft touch of my teddy bear

The sweet smell of mother's baking

The howling wind outside my door

The television speaking through the screen

My fingers make their journey toward my face

Smiling or frowning is the expression made

By tile silky pink lips and drawn cheeks

The touch is soothing and relaxes the

Muscles as I drift to sleep clutching

The woolly soft bear beside me

In my warm silken bed sheets.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

He was always there

Whenever I needed him

He helped me learn to care

We would talk for hours

About things that weren't important

He made me feel as if I had power

He said, "I love you"

And that he wouldn't hurt me

So I said, "I love you, too"

I believed all his lies

He wasn't there for me

Throughout all my cries

My friend and he betrayed me

One foggy Saturday night

Could I really be that blind to see?

Your friends you can't trust

They just want a little bit of lovin'

And a whole lot of lust

He wants another chance

I have to look back at the things he's done

I take another glance

Does he deserve one more?

He opened my heart

And threw open the door

He would be hard to lose

Over a little bit of fun

And a lot of booze

For now, we're friends

I'm giving it time

Seeing where it ends

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Fiery hatred fills his eyes,

Anger boils like lava inside.

He's after the one who caused the pain,

Making his family go insane.

He gathers his brothers all dressed in black

And knows at once it's over; they could never look back.

The thoughts in their minds could not be erased,

For the memory of their mother could never be replaced.

They spot the scene and turn around,

They grab their tissues and begin to frown.

Their mother lying all torn and tattered,

Then the cops came and made them all scatter.

He wouldn't tell them what was the matter.

When they got to the hospital to check her out.

The doctors wouldn't tell them because they would flip out.

In the late night their mother died,

Everyone in the room broke down and cried.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Fear is the blade of a broken knife.

As its jagged edge inches closer to my throat.

The sensation of knowing death is near is horrifying.

A lump of fear forms in my throat as I lay in a thick black fog.

I hear a man breathing as he "creaks" his way toward me.

I try to pull the covers over my head hoping to hide from my fear,

But the burning thoughts of death never leave me.

The fear sounds of a locomotive rushing towards me

The moonlight cuts the black fog as it glares off the jagged blade.

The shape of the blade against my throat.

The wind moans with the fear of DEATH.

I feel helpless against the knife.

Its dominating grip grasps me with all its might.

The thundering locomotive storms closer,

I know death's wrath is ready to consume me.

My heart starts to beating and beating against my chest.

As I fall into a troubled sleep with the thought of

DEATH.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

The darkness of an evening shadow creeps

slowly, quietly, without a trace. Stealing

and using every power she can get

to take away the living from the earth.

Suddenly all warm becomes a violent

cold, and now the safe is not. Please

keep this shadow from the living, please

keep this dark, ghostly villain from the good.

She hears the hollering and the screaming,

but never has she cared to stop the pain

that she now is causing to single life--

to stop would be a waste of time.

Her job knows not the living,

but adds one more to the dead.

Grade 10

St. Marys High School

Teacher: Mrs. Ruane

I'm in my own little world now

Without a map, I'm lost

Into an endless pit

My life has just been tossed

I've got a one way ticket to nowhere

And I'm going nowhere fast

How will I know when I get there

Or have I been there in the past

If I decide to leave there

Will I ever come back again

Or will I live inside this hell

Until the very end

I've just passed a sign now

"Nowhere, Population: One"

So there's no turning back now

'Cause it's all been said and done

The sign changed once again

"Nowhere, Population: Two"

Welcome to my nowhere

It's just you and me

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

They think I'm smart,

Yet I struggle every day.

I appear to be happy,

But I'm hurting inside.

My mom thinks I hate her at times.

Only, I love her more than ever.

Around my friends I'm outgoing,

And very shy otherwise.

Some people see me as lazy,

But really, I'm full of life.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

A drink or two

that's how it starts.

She's sitting there.

His emotions shift.

A scream, a yell,

that's what comes next.

She takes cover

and is very scared.

He always gets like this.

Why can't she just leave him?

When is it going to end?

A slap, and a punch,

that's how it ends.

and she slips off

into her own little happy world

of unconsciousness.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

From California to Colorado

Guns lie beneath the shadows

Innocent eyes begin to cry

No one really understands why

Little children are carrying guns

And ruining lives of everyone

How can children be so distraught

To destroy precious little thoughts?

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

An angel on a mission,

He's set out to earn his wings.

The person he's sent to watch and protect

Is a girl who's nothing what she seems.

As he watches her every action,

And catches her every fall,

He realizes this is the one,

The one he loves most of all.

He's the one beside her side through thick and thin,

And when she doesn't get to see him,

She's knows he's with her deep within.

After four and a half months of happiness,

Everything was so great.

The girl grew to love her angel,

But of course then in had to step fate.

One frightfully tragic morning,

As a car lay smashed and wrapped around a telephone pole,

The helpless girl left scrunched inside.

Had her angel not taken the hit for her,

She would have definitely died.

He earned his wings,

The most beautiful and radiant to have ever been seen.

Wings that help protect not only him but also her from everything.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The cool breeze whistled by my ears

Smack, the ball sailed over the fence

Bang, the fireworks lit up the night sky

The stadium, like a circus

The beer man yelling

The fans cheering

The players screaming

The moonlight sky gleaming

The score became tied

With two outs in the ninth

The ball, hit deep

And into the seats

The fans cheered

The visitors jeered

The game over

The game won

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Frustration, frustration, frustration

It is all that I feel anymore

A sunny day turned cloudy by never ending disappointment

Everything I try is diminished into squandered time

Nothing is good enough to satisfy the critics of my life

"Why can't you do better?" rings in my ears as if I was stranded in a bell tower with a door that won't let me out

Nothing good enough, nothing is up to their standard

They ridicule me over the failures that they so enjoy pointing out

Something that I may feel is my best work is nothing more than a poor and wasteful effort to some

It's enough to drive a sane man mad or possibly a mad man sane

It makes me wonder why I try at all

The question of all questions that is so more complex than it appears

What's the point in doing or trying something that will be turned away and degraded?

It's a question that burns inside my head like the wood that burns in a fireplace

Even after I think it has burned itself away to nothing, there is always something remaining

In the form of ashes or smoke it doesn't matter

It just lingers there in my head like apparitions

Always a reminder of past thoughts and feelings

Then later something ignites the fire again

It can be a passing memory or an event that happened during the day

Nevertheless the fire has been rekindled and I am left with the same unanswered question

Then I realize that I'm afraid to answer the question

What if the answer isn't the one that I thought I wanted?

What if it keeps me in the same predicament that I'm already in?

Or even what if the answer takes me to part of myself that I don't want to even know?

But even as I fear the answer I also fear it may be close at hand

Inner demons in a battle that is close to the end

The question is, though, which demon will win?

Grade 10

Delphos St. John High School

Teacher: Sr. Valerie Schneider

I woke up this morning

To George Strait's "You Can Do Anything Else."

I then thought to myself

"This is my motivational song for today."

So I got up, took a shower,

got dressed and went to school.

First period shouldn't have ended,

Second period should have.

Third period I slept.

Fourth period I typed.

And all the while 'listening' to the song in my head.

Fifth period I laughed and laughed

and even during lunch!

Sixth period brought me to the same room

as the third period before.

Seventh period I laughed again

But Eighth period I slept again.

And all the while 'listening' to the song in my head.

School is out, it's three o'clock.

It's time to go home and

get ready for work.

Our o'clock comes and I start my job,

I know it'll be fun 'cause Tim & George are there.

I'll help with pre-close while saying

"Would you like fries with that?"

And all the while 'listening' to the song in my head.

Work is over, it's time

to go home. It's time to

get my homework done.

Now it's ten o'clock and fm ready

to go back to bed.

I'll start over in the morning, with a

brand new song for tomorrow's day.

I'll go through the day "listening"

to my song. The song that's in my

head from the morning of the day.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

I'm sorry red flannel jacket.

I made you go out in

The freezing temperatures,

Cold wet rain,

And chilly winds.

I didn't try to tear

Your button off with

That obnoxious tree limb.

I felt so dreadful the day you

Were snagged on the fence,

You looked as if

You should have been

Put out of your misery.

You used to be so beautiful,

With your colorful brown buttons,

Bright red flannel material,

And two perfectly sized pockets.

I'm sorry red flannel jacket.

Will you ever forgive me?

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

When you go live in a world of fantasy,

You never know what it is you should see.

Just open your eyes to everything around you.

There'd be no limits to what you could do.

In this world people come and they go.

You never know what emotions to show.

Everyone seems to know just what to say.

And you've just been watching the passing day.

Enjoy living and learn how to love.

And be sure you look for guidance from above.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

As I walked down the smoky dank smelling path.

My erect body saw only plum flowers on the telling path.

My pale salty skin glittered in the sun on the shining path.

Then I crunched into a tree and shot out a moan on the winding path.

And I slowly rotted away in the hazy woods on the unforgiving path.

Grade 10

Loncolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

My life I've spent at Lincolnview

The gold, the white, the blue.

Each day is always different

I'm learning something new.

The teachers talk in languages

I don't always understand.

They use big words and phrases

I just can't comprehend.

My parents say I'm learning

Although I see no use

For Algebra and Science

Oh! I'm so confused!

Just two more years of all this fun

They say that it goes fast.

Time flies like a jet zooming through the sky

And this will all be past.

But for now we sit in English

Fighting with this poem.

I wonder what we'll say next.

There's the bell! We must be gone!

Grade 10

Lincolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

I hate the way you look at me,

I hate the way you stare,

I hate the way you laugh at me,

I hate the way you glare.

I hate the way you dress.

I hate all of your shoes.

I hate your little nasty smirks,

I hate the way you lose.

I hate the way you talk to me,

I hate the way you lie.

Every time I think of you,

All I do is cry.

I hate the way you treat your friends,

You really treat them bad.

I hate the way you think you're cool,

It really makes me mad.

I hate the way I believed in you,

Every word you said.

When you called me beautiful,

It went straight to my head.

Yet I hate the way I hate you,

Now I bare the truth.

Every time I hear your name,

All I think of is how much I love you.

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

It has a great sense of humor to it,

As if a small, childish monkey laughs,

Laughs like there is no tomorrow for it,

The room causes many monkeys to laugh.

It's fun in a way, but also eerie,

It has the exciting atmosphere there,

And with the shadows, the sense of creepy,

Frightening fun and give you an odd scare.

It is super steep, always causing falls,

With the 50's walls, there is the pea green,

Along with the smell of candy that calls,

And then calls again for the sun to scream.

To allow freedom for the sideways room,

To be fun, and not as dull as a broom.

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Don't call people nerds or a dum-dum.

Don't call small people runts. Guys don't

always call girls chicklettes. They have names you

know . If you do, they might pop you. Snickers

and skittles don't settle anything.

Most teens want a guy who's a chick a stick and

they want him to gusher with good looks.

But just please make sure he's a jolly rancher.

Girls remember not to be an airhead around him.

Dr. Peppers are always nice.

He'll be your sugar daddy and you'll be his

sugar baby.

Also remember to exercise. Don't get roll ch's

But don't be sugarless. Join from New York Patty

on Monday Mornings.

Be bubblicious! Don't be a sour apple.

Enjoy life. Do the tootsie roll.

Be proud of yourself and take challenges. Don't

let mounds get in your way.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

To tell you the truth, I hate Bengals fans

Except when the Bengals are losing to the Browns

Allowing me to crack jokes at them, laugh at them, and brag about how good the Browns are

They lose horribly to make my day.

And I hate when people think they know everything.

Unless it's me.

Or someone who actually does know what they're talking about.

To tell you the truth, I hate running

Except when I don't have to, then I just lay on my butt,

Eat junk food, and drink pop all day.

And I detest pickles

Unless they are covered in ketchup,

And their disgusting taste is covered up.

To tell you the truth I hate writing papers

I avoid it whenever I can.

Except when I can write about how much I hate it

Which makes me feel better about it

Writing about how long it takes and how stupid it is.

And I hate spaghetti

Unless it's my mom's.

And if the truth be known, I hate fleece.

Except when it's my ESPN fleece.

And I hate country music.

Unless it's the Dixie Chicks.

Because they are hot.

And to tell you the truth I hate the Bengals.

NO EXCEPTIONS!

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

A tree is so very strong

A tree is so very long

He sits there like a soldier

Everyday, growing older

No weather can chase him away

But if it does he'll be out the next day

He guards this place like it's his home

For all he is sitting in is silty loam.

Grade 12

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

The time has come to say goodbye.

The tears begin to fill each eye.

Where life will take us, nobody knows.

Our future is full of highs and lows.

But now we go our separate ways

Remembering closely our yesterdays.

We will make new friends and realize

Where we are going for the rest of our lives.

Despite our anticipation for the college life,

Letting go will cause us strife.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Lily flowers in a soft breeze

Softly whispers in gentle ease

Sweet smell of grass strands

Vast fields of vegetable lands

The distant sound of a droning buzz

Soft white cotton floating like fuzz

Puffy, white fluffs in the sky

Beautiful flying colors, a butterfly!

Rays of light, brilliant sunshine

The unique presence of summertime.

Grade 10

Delphos St. John High School

Teacher: Sr. Valerie Schneider

Our all night make-over and pig-out fests,

Our all day shopping sprees and nights we spent cramming for tests.

The haunting, yet sacred memories of the night that boy broke my heart,

The all night tear sessions; the days nobody could tear us apart.

Those are all memories I hold securely inside,

Because they are memories of the past and it has come time for us to say "goodbye."

This is not a choice that you or I have made,

Our friendship was one to cherish, but now it must fade.

I no longer know of the tears you cry,

Nor do I have knowledge of the happiness in days gone by.

You see it is that boy that you like ever so much,

He is the one that keeps you away from my touch.

This boy stole your friendship; he took what once was mine,

And now, you too, are just a memory gone by.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

A wave of wind washed through the willow

Outside, when my head lay on the pillow.

Soon a gust gave a ferocious blow

That blew flakes of silvery soft snow.

The violent gust screamed past my pane,

I rose to look as branches strained,

Bent, and bowed beneath the bounty

Of snow that blew across the county.

I watched the snow, gray and white,

Sculpt the country landscape night.

The morning light broke in glorious rays,

Reflecting mounds of snow on hay.

Nature has now laid to rest

The barren land after season's harvest.

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Peaceful croons of creatures on high

And crickets chirping down below

Speak of the magnificence of the sky

And the crystalline colors Earth bestows

Wishful winds like whispers blow past by

The crashing shores on majestic pillars

While painted butterflies on a whim fly

Over and under amethyst flowers

Scents of the forest tell of life brand new

Causing birds to sing with glad awestruck songs

From the moment earth is dampened by dew

To sun's last rainbow ending the day long

With loving hands and a heart pure of gold

Through all of nature is God's glory told.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

There is a house down the road

Where a little girl is weeping.

Her mom and dad are fighting

About everything that comes to mind.

They are cussing and hitting

And screaming and crying

While the little girl is in her room,

Trying to go to sleep.

As the girl starts to doze off,

SLAM! The front door shuts.

The little girl runs down the stairs

To find her mom all alone.

She asks her mom where daddy went,

But she doesn't get an answer.

All her mom can do

Is sit in the corner and cry.

The parents then start to talk

About getting a divorce.

They explain it to the little girl,

Saying it isn't her fault.

Now this family lives happy lives,

With shared custody.

But this little girl will still be scarred

By the fight she heard that night.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

In a small little town,

Right outside the enormous city,

There is a small penitentiary.

Around the house is a rickety old fence.

Dead jimsonweed planted in the lumpy soil.

The windows blocked off so that no light can shine in.

The front door hangs by two screws.

When the door opens, it creaks with agony.

Walk inside and it is another story.

It may not seem scary, but it is disgusting.

The stairs are battered and broken.

The walls have busted pictures and candleholders.

The television sits on a moldy wooden crate.

Most of the furniture is ripped to shreds.

Spiders play hide-and-go-seek in the corners of the room.

There's creaking as you walk through the torn up house,

Thinking that no one could live in such a disgusting environment.

An old man creeps through the mangled rooms.

The man wears nothing but dirty rags and towels.

His skin is pitch black from the dust that flies around.

He is hunched over from walking without a cane.

He stares at you.

He tells you that he is the one man who can do everything,

Telling you that he is God.

The man doesn't leave his wretched old house.

He mopes around the shabby floor

And stares at the discolored walls.

The gnarled looking man tells you tales

While you sit in discomfort.

You stare and listen,

Even though you can tell that none of his tales are true.

You forget the reason for going into the house,

Other than wanting to know what kind of person the old man was.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Boom! Crack! grumble . . .

Drip . . . drip . . . drip . . . drip, drip, drip, drip, drizzle . . .

The soft elegant spring rain splashes on the cool winter chilled ocean.

The dry gritty warm sand dampens as the slippery rain cleansed the cold dreary world.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . BLEAT! BLEAT! BLEAT!

Fresh aromatic springs scent the newly dampened warm air of sun shiny morning.

Doves coo, and blue jays chirp,

Breaking the once hollow silence of the cold.

The toasty sun bellows down upon the newly cleansed earth.

A breeze whispers by with the smell of freshly budding flowers.

New life . . .

Grade 10

Lincolnview igh School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

The moon flashed upon the desert like a strobe light,

And it guided me throughout the night.

The stars were bright and filled with pain,

I only wished for it to rain.

The voices of the desert were calling and I was in a terrible fright,

I tried to run with all of my might.

The voices wouldn't quit calling my name,

And the more I ran it seemed I had nothing left to gain.

Then all of a sudden I felt a horrible bite,

And everything I was seeing was out of sight.

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Fun, enjoyable

Exciting, diving, running

Runs, outs

Strike out

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

I look at you, through the blanket of mist

And see you sparkling bright.

The shining water looks sun kissed,

And I can't breathe at such a sight.

Your water pours from over the top,

Where it comes from, does anyone know?

It keeps on falling and never seems to stop,

When it hits rock bottom, to where does it flow?

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Time is running out

Do I ask her

What will I say

Or even worse what if I slur.

Why does she have to be so beautiful,

With hair long and brown

And those deep blue eyes.

She makes me look as if I were a clown.

I have to ask her, but how

She might laugh at me

But not her for she is the one

That I never asked to be.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Hit the deck, the shells are flying,

The battle has now begun.

I hope to live to see tomorrow.

If I do not, remember me.

Bullets fly by, near my head.

I duck to escape from it.

I do not want to die I am too young.

Now darkness falls on my life.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The last leaf was finally placed at the pinnacle of the precipitous pile.

A satisfying feeling came over us after two hours of brushing crumbly

Orange and red leaves across the yard.

The spot under the huge maple tree looked very inviting.

Though it was the principal cause of our merciless labor,

We took advantage of its widespread limbs.

As I raced my sisters to our new favorite spot for lounging, she came . . .

Like a bullet from a gun, she shot out of the garage.

She threw her mammoth, muscular body into the mountain of freshly raked leaves.

Woof! Woof! She barked into the crisp autumn air as she bounced, yes bounced,

On our accomplishment.

My charcoal and ivory Malamute Husky flailed about,

Creating a miniature windstorm of leaves.

My eyes and those of my sisters grew as round as silver dollars

As we saw our hard work whisked away with the single joyous flip of Sammy's tail.

But as we watched her play in the glory of autumn, Our anger vanished like the morning fog.

We could resist no longer . . .

Tripping over rakes and untied shoestrings,

We ran to the hollowed-out mound and jumped in.

Dog and little girls,

We played in the remains of the sunlight until the day went to bed.

As did we.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The beginning of new life

Flowers blooming, Trees budding, Plants sprouting

Sunny days and warm rains

Cool breezes and midnight chills

Spring

The chime of a new day brings new faces to the world

Replacing all the lost loved ones of yesterday

While children play and animals rejoice

Life starts over again

Spring

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The shot is thrown up.

And where I roam in the paint,

A battle for that rebound is about to erupt.

There will be a war among the tall.

We can not win without the ball.

So with all my might,

I fight for that ball.

The pushing and shoving is about td begin.

As the ball clangs off the backboard.

Bouncing off like the girls' ponytails.

A sound that I love to hear.

Knowing the fun is about to begin.

Doing all I can to get the ball.

Using my rear and elbows as God intended me to do.

To move my opponent out of my paint.

I may be short but beware,

The strength in my arms and legs will out do yours.

Trying not to step on the fallen ones.

The ones who do not belong in the paint.

The bodies are bouncing around like ping pong balls.

I will never stop till the ball is in my hands.

We can not win without the ball.

One person stands with the ball in the end.

And only she can laugh in the others face.

"Ha! I got the ball"

As the next shot is thrown up,

the fight far the board begins again.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

The tepid water splashed as we frolicked into the pool like dehydrated Antarctica's.

I tinkled and farted until the water gurgled behind me like a fish tank.

The transparent water was like glass during break time.

As water absorbing midgets swarmed the shack, the quad swing sang.

Once again the whistle squealed and the children rumbled to the gates again.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Miss Finke

To tell you the truth, I hate waking up early

Except when it is something that I enjoy

Seeing the morning sunrise

Lighting up this beautiful world

And I hate vegetables

Unless they are covered in melted hot cheese

Then I can't taste the horrible vegetables

To tell you the truth, I hate being grounded

Except when there is nothing going on

Because then I am not missing anything

Just sitting at home watching television

And I detest dirty clothes

Unless I am mad

And then I just don't care what I where

To tell you the truth, I hate running

I avoid it whenever I can

Except when it's mandatory for a sport

Which will keep me in shape

And I hate beef

Unless it has spices in it

Which will take away the ordinary taste

And, if the truth be known, I hate doing dishes

Except when I get into trouble because then I have no choice, I have to like it

And I hate meatloaf

Unless it's my mom's,

Which tastes so good compared to everyone else's

And, to tell you the truth, I hate liver

No exceptions

Grade 11

Lincolnview High School

Teacher: Mr. Leeth

That's one reason I'll never let you go.

Love wouldn't be love if I lied.

But since I care, I'll look you in the eye,

And say I'll be with you--

Until the day I die.

I'll never let go of you,

And only God knows why I cry over you.

I cry because I miss you.

I cry because whenever I need something you're always the one there.

Whenever I need comfort, your joy is all you share.

So crying can be good, but crying can be bad--

But trust me, when I cry for you, I am never sad.

Sadness is not trust.

Sadness is not love.

Sadness didn't come from heaven--

But you came from up above.

So can you see why I love you?

Can you tell me love is true?

Just ask me if I love you,

And I'll say "I do."

Grade 9

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Etzkorn

Best driver ever

Pass him never

Left, right, which way

Every race he gets paid

Only once did he win Daytona

Last lap, last turn

Protecting his son's lead

Daytona took his life

Forever the greatest

Forever number three

The Intimidator

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

It came to my knowledge the other day

That my adulthood has begun.

With all my hopes and dreams left behind,

I ponder what I really want to do.

I put thoughts and wishes in my head that I want to come true.

I hope to be an actor--wouldn't this be great?

I hope to be famous--wouldn't this be fun?

I hope to be married--I have always dreamed of this.

And I hope to have lots of money and be the richest in the world.

But then I realize that these are all just hopes and dreams.

So I continue to fulfill my life and be as happy as I can be.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Like thorns digging into my heart

My body aches when we're apart

I feel a great love, a love so true

But we're always apart and I'm longing for you

Leaving you would be a mistake

My eyes would have tears, my heart would break

When I'm with you I'm wanted and loved

You have the beauty of an angel sent from above

Right now I need you and I write this rhyme

I'm so confused because you don't have time

I will always be here from day to day

But will you be there for me. Do you feel the same way

If I needed you would there be a guarantee

That if I turned around you would be with me

I know you're busy and you're not always free

But that's all right, it's okay with me

As long as when I'm with you, you make me feel free

'Cause if you make me feel special you'll always have me.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Gorgeous, gold, gritty sand squeezes between my tough toes

The salty smell scents the air from the ocean nearby

The water crashes against the rocks

And I can hear the summer breeze whistle in my ear

I feel lazy as I sit in my chair

The heat beats down on my body

I can hear children playing and splashing on the beach

The peaceful place relaxes me greatly.

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

To tell you the truth, I hate torrential downpours on Sundays,

Except when there are chores to be done outside,

Then I love to lounge around and do nothing all day.

And I hate school on Monday mornings,

Unless there is a two-hour delay,

Then I fancy to sleep in till noon.

To tell you the truth, I hate ignorant people,

Except when they are comical,

Then I just fall down laughing at their stupidity.

And I hate homework on the weekends,

Unless I am engrossed in the subject,

Then I could squander my whole weekend studying.

And if the truth be known, I hate icy, blustery days,

Except when it snows,

Then I am devoted to sledding all day.

And I hate sporting dress clothes,

Unless for a wedding reception.

And to tell you the truth, I hate running,

NO EXCEPTIONS!

Grade 11

Coldwater High School

Teacher: Ms. Finke

Thud, thud,

A whispered meow,

Furry paws prance through the grass.

His sleek, mangy body

With beige, hairless splotches

Between clumps of brown fluff,

Crouches toward the ground

Like a soldier preparing for battle

As he anxiously anticipates the pounce.

He barrels forward in attack

Then boisterously carries his victim in his mouth

Victoriously displaying his defeat

Of the lifeless, crunching leaf.

Grade 11

Crestview High School

Teacher: Mr. Keith Langdon

Death is nothing that scares me.

Someday death will come and visit me,

But hopefully it waits to visit me.

Death is nothing that bothers me.

It will come whenever it's time,

That is something I cannot stop.

I'll die sooner or later,

But how soon is sooner,

And how late is later?