I N K W E L L2017

T H E I N K W E L L2 0 1 7 • V O L U M E 3 7

C A N T E R B U R Y M I D D L E S C H O O L

5TH GRADE WINNERS

Ana Bierbaum

Amia Carter

Lucy Gray

Joseph Hughes

Zachary Kuczek

Devon Lewis

Chloe Park

Olivia Scavo

Caleb Walda

Dillon Wardlow

SEVENTH GRADE

Vonnia Anwar

Harley Babbitt

Julia Beatty

Avery Biggs

Georgia Gray

Micah Holder

Alexandro Robles

Maile Smits

Kyra Tonsil

Eric Wever

6TH GRADE WINNERS

Amber Choi

Camille Coker

Naomi Gephart

Andrew Habig

Maria Krotov

Madeline Phuong

Kayden Ptak

Adel Quta

Marissa Toole

Tommy Tsai

EIGHTH GRADE

Daniel Coker

Emma Najdeski

Mahri Romano

Vincent Rorick

Olivia Roussel

Quinn Saleik

Ethan Teel

Zachary Tempel

Sophie Terrell

Isabella Von Seggern

W R I T E R S ’ C O N F E R E N C E W I N N E R S

A D D I T I O N A L S E L E C T E D P O E M S

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Winter Lyric DevonLewis,Grade5  7

Beauty Unnoticed CalebWalda,Grade5  7

Lost ChloePark,Grade5  9

Asheville LucyGray,Grade5  9

Untitled DillonWardlow,Grade5  10

School JosephHughes,Grade5  10

Beauty Unnoticed ZacharyKuczek,Grade5  11

Ode to a Poem NaomiGephart,Grade6  11

Together AdelQuta,Grade6  12

Spooky Shadows TommyTsai,Grade6  12

Letting Go OliviaScavo,Grade5  13

An Empty Promise MadelinePhuong,Grade6  14

My Dog AnaBierbaum,Grade5  15

Friendship AmiaCarter,Grade5  16

The Little Things in France JuliaBeatty,Grade7  16

War KaydenPtak,Grade6  18

Flickering Lights MariaKrotov,Grade6  18

Asus KyraTonsil,Grade7  19

To a Halt AndrewHabig,Grade6  19

Paradise CamilleCoker,Grade6  21

Swisher AmberChoi,Grade6  22

Stars DanielCoker,Grade8  23

Lion HarleyBabbitt,Grade7  25

Life EricWever,Grade7  25

Broken AveryBiggs,Grade7  26

The Ballerina MaileSmits,Grade7  27

Emblem MarissaToole,Grade6  27

Ode to Middle School GeorgiaGray,Grade7  28

Rain MahriRomano,Grade8  28

Mirror Effect AlexandroRobles,Grade7  29

Country’s Sonnet SongIsabellaVonSeggern,Grade830

Homeless yet Happy MicahHolder,Grade7  30

America ZacharyTempel,Grade8  32

Pinnacle of No Emotion VincentRorick,Grade8  33

The Night Sun VonniaAnwar,Grade7  35

This Girl Is Going to be QueenSophieTerrell,Grade8  36

The Test EthanTeel,Grade8  37

A Love Affair with Food EmmaNajdeski,Grade8  38

Music QuinnSaleik,Grade8  39

The Unexpected Ending OliviaRoussel,Grade8  40

F E AT U R E D A R T

JoyChen,Grade8 Cover

YsabellaLiu,Grade6 8

SamanthaKo,Grade8 13

EliPasalich,Grade7 17

ChloePark,Grade5 20

IsabellaVonSeggern,Grade8 24

KaydenPtak,Grade6 29

AlexElko,Grade7 31

GabrielleSpier,Grade8 34

LukeMcClure,Grade8 38

AmberChoi,Grade6 41

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WINTER LYRICDevon Lewis, Grade 5

Trees freezingTemperatures below zeroSquirrels are sleeping in their cozy treeBears are hibernating with bellies fullNo more sounds ofChirping birdsThe waterFrozen solidA snowman Brighter than paper

BEAUTY UNNOTICEDCaleb Walda, Grade 5

The shabby stuffed animal sits near the bedIts fur once softNow rough and scruffyA missing eye and gray scratched noseIts body in a mangled poseThe scarf it once woreNow a tangle of stringsIts black marble eye has seen many thingsIt once had ears that are now worn awayHas this old bear been abandoned?Not yetHowever shabby, still in useAnd even in all its long nights of useThis bear is still loved dearlySeen by its loving ownerAs if it were still, and alwaysBrand new

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Ysabella Liu, Grade 6

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LOSTChloe Park, Grade 5

Twigs snapping below bare feetWind blowing through my hairAs if it doesn’t careWhether people are lost

It just wants to get to a meeting Wherever winds meet

Owls hoot tenselyListening for crackling footsteps of preyEvery moment or soI whip my head aroundAs if a monster lurks behindBut no one is there I have never been this alone Ever before

ASHEVILLELucy Gray, Grade 5

I love Asheville The mountains are my second homeThe time I spent thereI lovedIt was almost always warmPlaying outside was so much funIt would be so nice to see my big familyEvery day, like a vacationNow we just visitAnd I’m grateful I can

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UNTITLEDDillon Wardlow, Grade 5

The forgotten cemeteries are goneThere is no other place to find themMy great grandfather was buried somewhereI am the one to find himI will find them allI want to see those lost gravestonesThey are hidden somewhereMy parents tell me storiesThose stories are adventurousThey encourage meSomeday I will find themIn my dreams

SCHOOLJoseph Hughes, Grade 5

If only I could take a big pink eraser To all the mistakes I’ve ever madeI would be excited, joyful to haveNo errorsMisplaced lettersUnintended marks on the edges of my pageMy mind would be clear of allThings gone badMy days would be freshA new startA world full of peaceAnd a blank white page

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BEAUTY UNNOTICED Zachary Kuczek, Grade 5

A glass cup Traveling from the dishwasher To its home Hands grabbing dishes One after another Until all of a sudden The hand picks up a lonely glass And then, “Plop!” It slips out of the hand And shatters on the floor Beautiful crystals Scattered all over the marble tiles

ODE TO A POEMNaomi Gephart, Grade 6

You are a puzzle, confusing and intriguing meLike a cage of birds, your grammatical structures fly around my headThe author, who spent 5 hours pondering a single sentenceAs he searched his mind for another hidden meaningInventing the newest form of tortureThe poet, a genius of sorts,An evil plan beginning to take form like the poem he wrote yesterdayA cloud of confusion covering the page like the ink he spilt when he was frustratedHe allows the words to do his evil biddingHe keeps them in the thesaurus by his bed They are a lifejacket, keeping his poem aliveThough there’s only one thing you need in a poemConfusion

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TOGETHER Adel Quta, Grade 6

Wondering where the noise came from, we were in our houseWhen we looked inside the air conditioner, the things inside that were barely alive Had been there for weeks and had been discovered over the hole with the mouse The bird, a soft, delicate bird, shaking because his mother had forgotten himCame with us on a short, but important driveHis sibling that experienced the same thing is being taken care ofWe tried to help them as much as we couldWhich is evidence that we started to loveThem and protect them under the hoodUnfortunately, it was too lateThey all had gone in less than a dayThey had all experienced the exact same fateAnd this sadly, was the only wayWe buried them outsideAnd this was when our thoughts for them were most deepSo we buried them together, side to sideThey will always be in an eternal sleep

SPOOKY SHADOWSTommy Tsai, Grade 6

Waltzing on the streetsThe shadows twisted aboutTheir dark hands fiddlingAfter they waltzed, the shadowsSneaked away with their guitars

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SamanthaKo,Grade8

LETTING GOOlivia Scavo, Grade 5

You hold on to someone deeplyBut they let goBreaking your heartBut you can’t let it showYou hold all the feelingsSitting on a bench, letting the wind blowUntil you have to feel All the darknessYet still letting the light glowYou accept the heartbreakAnd grow

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AN EMPTY PROMISEMadeline Phuong, Grade 6

Amidst all the chaos,The woman, a weary mother,Watches and waits,Although so much had happenedSince the horrible newsThat had been delivered to her doorstep.

Two children, the sweet angels of her life, Quietly comfort her, Tears streaking down from her tired eyes.Mommy, they whisper to her, unknowingly.Why do you cry?

After days of waiting,A flicker of hope kindles in her eyes,The small chance of escape from The death and destruction approaching.

A heaviness settled its wayOver the woman’s heart,The unavoidable path solidifying the future.She had desperately prayed it wouldn’t come to this,The look on her face becoming more defeated With each heavy step.

She approaches the ticket booth,The woman slowly slipped off her wedding ring,The last memory of her beloved, A brave soldier who had fought in the never-ending war.

As she hopes it would be enough, She dropped the ringInto the attendant’s handIn return for two tickets.The woman pleadingly looked at the

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Attendant, waiting for a third,She glances at her two innocent children,But was met with the attendant’s steely gaze.

The mother tucks the tickets intoThe pockets of her children’s coats,And ushers them onto the boat.She promises to come for them soon,Knowing deep inside that it was a promiseShe would not be able to keep.

MY DOGAna Bierbaum, Grade 5

A scary placeThe dog shelter isDogs barking everywhereHowling, growlingBut thereIn the backIs a small timid puppyWith silky black furAnd a white stripe running down her noseHer feet are speckled with white dotsLike snowflakes on the pavementShe is the perfect oneShe is the one we will bring homeAnd she will forever be a part of my family

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FRIENDSHIPAmia Carter, Grade 5

I share with youNot just the most awesome selfiesBut also some of my life’sMost precious memoriesOur friendship runs deepRight through my heart and soulYou have no idea how importantIn my life, is your roleI don’t care about anything elseOther than having you aroundBecause only your smiles haveThe power to wipe away my frown...But that’s what friends are for

THE LITTLE THINGS IN FRANCEJuliaBeatty,Grade7

I ride my little yellow bicycle at noon in the springIt has a little basket in the front that carries bright red tulips, and little white daisiesI wear black leggings and a little black beretBut my most favorite piece of clothing of all is the little black and white striped shirt that I usually wear in the fallI have a little brown satchel that I carry on my back that carries two large pieces of baguetteAs my little bike wheels turn on the smooth stone road I get very close to the same old destinationI soon come to a stop and take off the little camera I carry on my neckAnd then take little pictures of the Eiffel Tower as I munch on little pieces of French bread

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EliPasalich,Grade7

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WARKayden Ptak, Grade 6

The sun shall set, as the birds flyDusk fills the night skySwimming through their thoughtsYou can hear the sounds of gunshots.War has begunWe sit, watching the cannons blowFear, the feeling of disbeliefRunning through our bodyScreams fill the airWar has begunStealing through the night’s uncertaintiesWe cry as the sound of death fills the airThe stench of blood runs through our veinsMixing the dusk and stars togetherWar has begunWe feel the crippling bodies watching over usLooking for delight, we sit worrying about our futureWondering how we will live after warThe final screams are let outWar has begun

FLICKERING LIGHTSMaria Krotov, Grade 6

Deafening screams echo across the empty shedTools banging loudly into the wooden wallsLights flicker mysteriously overheadDeafening screams echo across the empty shed As the wind blows violently, children toss and turn in bedThe thunder booms as the lightening callsDeafening screams echo across the empty shedTools banging loudly into the wooden walls

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ASUSKyraTonsil,Grade7

You don’t run on a normal basisYou never have a clueAbout what you have to doAt least next yearYou won’t even be here

TO A HALTAndrew Habig, Grade 6

Slowed further into a fixed state, I find myself in a standstill of functionalityIt is that there is a bump in the road, or more of a critical matter, a dead end

Misconceived, mistaken, perhaps that I am the wrong person, oh the brutalitySeeking a way out, feeling like a lab rat in a maze, I find yet another, dead end

In the past I’ve been told to not look behind, so I look straight of my realityWalking on this road, walls closing in, on my side is an even more dead end

In the dark that I linger, I see the light, hope for my questionable personalityOut of a curved tunnel, I take my drooped head and look up, but sadly, a dead end

At last I look above me, looking towards the gods, nothing, what abnormalityDepressed and shocked, I crumple to the ground giving up on progressing – a dead end

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Chloe Park, Grade 5

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PARADISECamille Coker, Grade 6

Waves slowly lapping at the shoreA whole world goes unnoticedIn a single one, a tiny formation of waterStreaming together Colors blend into oneAs the setting sun reaches outOne last timeTo this miracle of natureBubbling up from underneath aJet-black, cruel beginningThe amber fades to a grass-greenBefore bursting above sea-levelTo explode in a shimmer of magicThat is never seen Silhouettes dancing in the windPalm trees stand proud as they waitThe first drops starting to spray downThe clear yet colorful ceilingGlimmers mischievously A ray, a stream of light breaks throughThe tough barrierDisappearing, this phenomenon That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity To see, is gone forever

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My dearest one, Do you not remember?Do you not recall?

Can you bring backThe memories,The sweet thingsThat he’s done?

When the days slipped byAs the sun shone goldAnd the one that you and I lovedGrew tired, weak, and old?

As the day with scarlet raysShining through the window Revealed the tears falling down one’s faceWith growing sorrow

Do you recallWatching his lifeSlip into the ranks of stars?His soulEscape Into their waiting arms?

His body lyingAs if in rest

How could that have beenHis dying breath?

Eyes unseeingHeart unmovingLungs not breathing

And he still left an imprintOn this very familyOne that no other birdCould give us so willingly

SWISHERAmber Choi, Grade 6

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STARSDanielCoker,Grade8

Aurora Borealis Floats in the black sky, Illuminating the dead land, Rippling and waving.

Like A mystic veil, An ethereal wisp, An open portal to another world.

Disappearing In the morning.

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IsabellaVonSeggern,Grade8

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LIONHarleyBabbitt,Grade7

Cameras flash before meI growl at the crowdI want to run awayThe man with the whip prevents meHe makes me do tricksThe crowd cheers and clapsI want to hunt in AfricaBut I am tortured here

LIFEEricWever,Grade7

As living here on earth has shownThere is much that is not knownBut we still know of war and hateAs our tempers continue to fluctuateThere are still good things out hereBut the bad things simply won’t disappearNature is such a pretty thingWith birds who like to singBut we are ruining their homeAs we cut the trees, they must roamOut to where we have protectedOr they could be dissectedBut we can still change some thingsThen maybe everyone can feel like kings

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BROKENAveryBiggs,Grade7

The weight of the worldIs heavy indeedOn my shouldersIt liesAll day and all nightI walk with sadnessI talk with a mumblesInto a million piecesBut one day a girlWith a twinkle in her eyePicked up those piecesAnd used the glue From her heartTo fix my soulShe lifted the EarthAnd moved the sunTo make me feel happyOnce againBut then she left meAs soon as her job was doneAnd I was sadFor she saved meFrom a lifetime of miseryThat day I discoveredThat the only thingWorse than The weight of the worldIs loneliness

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THE BALLERINAMaileSmits,Grade7

Leaping through the air Delicate, yet with flair She grasps the dust, reaching Leaping through the air Her strength shone through her glareBrave now, she once was shyLeaping through the airConfident, she can fly

EMBLEMMarissa Toole, Grade 6

In science classDoing my usual daydreamingOverheard my teacher saying, talking loud and clear, thatFlags on the moon have turned whiteFrom the sun’s radiationLike it was easy to go out and challengeEvery muscle in your bodyLike it was easy to know, as you strained to explore, that if a thing went wrongThere would be a chance of deathThose people who journeyed out risked everythingMost important symbol that proved they did it Has faded awaySomething sank inside of meDon’t know why everything has to come and goI asked my mother, with curiosity, what she thought later that dayShe said it makes you think about what is most importantMy thoughts have settled

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ODE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GeorgiaGray,Grade7

I am going to be blunt, I hate you.You cause me stress and pain.You are a liar! A phony! A fake!Your movies make you seem great.

But you are not you,Shove us in groups and slap labels on us you don’t even give us a chance to prove our worth!You are a place where being a dumb girl is applauded and having a brain is looked down upon. Yes, you praise good grades but the kids don’t.

You are full of stupid wordsSavage, dab.What are these stupid sounds people use when they clown around?Oh, middle school how I hate you.

RAINMahriRomano,Grade8

Sprinkles on my facePours onto the concreteWashes away the earth A powerful being A demure natural phenomenon A chance at new growth Cleansing the earth’s palate Dripping down a water pipeFlowing into any space

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Kayden Ptak, Grade 6

MIRROR EFFECTAlexandroRobles,Grade7

The peaceful watersA parallel dimensionUndisturbed beauty

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COUNTRY’S SONNET SONGIsabellaVonSeggern,Grade8

I’m a girl in an inner-city schoolEvery day I sit and await the bellSo I can dance in the spring air, so coolI love the sky, the colors all pastel

I’m much happier in jeans and a teeThan a dress and a face full of make-upWith messy hair and bright eyes, I run freeMud and sweat on my face, try to catch up

I need the country like grass needs the sunI thrive on memories of mud battlesI miss my dog-like calf; he was so funDon’t forget the smell of saddles

I may sit in the city all day longBut it’s impossible to forget that song

HOMELESS YET HAPPYMicahHolder,Grade7

People have called me a strangerI walk down the busy street with noise and bustleI run in fear when parents come after me in rageLittle do they know the joy that has been spreadI see a small boy crying next to a broken toyI kneel down to touch his broken slumped shouldersAnd I pick up the broken toy and carefully place it togetherI give it back to the curious childI turn around cherishing the huge delighted smileAnd I walk once more down the crowded streets

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AlexElko,Grade7

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AMERICAZacharyTempel,Grade8

AmericaSimply bestWorld’s greatest, the U.S.A.Advances technology and scienceMany are geniusesAiding people’s needsHad bad timesBut overcameDiversity is keyEveryone’s equal~~~Equal, everyone’sKey is diversityOvercame, butTimes of badHad needing people’s aidGeniuses are manyScience and technology advancesU.S.A the greatest, world’sBest, simplyAmerica

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PINNACLE OF NO EMOTIONVincentRorick,Grade8

I openly try to hide all emotionLike almost every other male in the worldAbsolutely dead in all my motionsA male is thought to see emotion and hurl

It’s insane, males are to set to a standardOf absolutely no love, life, or reasonIf they don’t follow this rule, they’re slanderedTo a male, emotion is severe treason

For some reason, we males have been labeledTo be this statue without any feelingAnd with emotion, be fully disabledBut, the stereotype is healing

However, it’s still yet to pass the brinkSoon, man will be allowed to feel and think

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GabrielleSpier,Grade8

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THE NIGHT SUNVonniaAnwar,Grade7

Say goodbye to the sun shining brightAs dusk takes over, the sky of grayThe moon appears at the start of night

As far as can be seen the trail of lightThe children now are on their waySay goodbye to the sun shining bright

There go the birds, all in flightWhen the breeze lets the leaves shiver and sway The moon appears at the start of night

The sea is calm, covered in twilightMist letting off a small spraySay goodbye to the sun shining bright

The wolf’s howl is louder tonightMaking the young go astrayThe moon appears at the start of night

The tension in the air is tightAs the people who look at the village saySay goodbye to the sun shining brightThe moon appears at the start of night

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THIS GIRL IS GOING TO BE QUEENSophieTerrell,Grade8

One day I will be queenIt’s in my very own blood and genesMy castle will be a live machine And oh, it will be so cleanIt’s always been my dream, ever since pre-teenI never wanted to be prom queen or in a magazineI just want to sit in my very own limousineEating gourmet sardines and fresh green beansI will be all over your movie screenOr maybe standing in a submarinePlaying the tambourineI will be very keenAnd I most certainly won’t be meanI will remind people of a jumping beanYou will believe that I am better than St. AugustineAnd yes, every week we will celebrate HalloweenMy arms will be full of MarinesNow that I have told you of my daily routinesLet’s just keep it between you and meBut someday I WILL be queenBut right now, I am just a teen!

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THE TESTEthanTeel,Grade8

Another day at schoolNot entirely coolBut a normal dayAlmost ended in my dismay

The announcement of a testWould not deter me from my questTo complete my educationI could not communicate how exactly it went South with any articulation

I had studied hardI had used my notecardBut it could not prepare meFor the onslaught of questions that stretched as far as the eye could see

I had accepted my fateThe outcome which I would hateResulting in a poor score I loathed nothing more

As my confidence waveredI had found my saviorThe answers that I soughtWere recovered in my thoughts

I happened to recallMy grade would not take a fallMy doubts were crushed like a pestBecause I knew I could pass the test

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LukeMcClure,Grade8

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH FOODEmmaNajdeski,Grade8

Oh, how I love glorious scrumptious food!What can I say? Food is my fierce passion.Food, you always put me in a fine mood.Delicious food is always in fashion.Macaroni and cheese, meatballs too.Lobster, shrimp and scallops are mighty fine.Tacos and nachos, don’t forget to chew!Oh food, will you be my sweet valentine?Chocolate, cookies, and ice cream galore,Snicker’s, Reese’s, Kit Kats, and Milkyway,And now I want the ultimate S’more.I also cherish the chewy Payday.Food, I love you to the cheese moon and back!Yes, I’ll take that risk of a heart attack.

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MUSICQuinnSaleik,Grade8

Music: the songs, rhythms, and the beatsAnd much more—music is a way of lifeMusic is creative, never concreteLyrics sometimes calm, sometimes cut like a knife

Music can be anything someone wantsA slow melody, or a lively jigMusic can set moods, mad, or nonchalantMusic can be concerts and even gigs

It sets different tones, sad and even madBut it can make people feel excitedMusic is an incredible thing, not badAnd it changes to make some delighted

Now, music is a wondrous thing it seemsAnd Music is woven through time like seams

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THE UNEXPECTED ENDINGOliviaRoussel,Grade8

Once I thought I could be freeThat I could fly away so I wouldn’t seeThe things that tried to control my mindI thought I could leave them behind

I was wrong and they follow me stillI’ve never been able to reach that hillThat hill which will grant me freedomI long to reach that kingdom

But today I’m going to try something newI’ve chosen someone to help. And guess what? It’s you.I needed someone to talk to and you’ve been thereI mean you’ve been listening ‘til now and it shows you care

I just needed to talk to someone who wouldn’t ask a single questionSomeone who would still stay by my side even if I made the suggestionOf them risking their lives to protect meAnd you’ve risked yours since you’ve continued to read

I don’t know how we got to this endingSince the beginning, the quality has been descendingBut you’ve read until here and you’ve somehow gotten throughI love that you felt that you had nothing better to do

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Amber Choi, Grade 6