2023 Sorrowful Snow
Sorrowful Snow
by Erica Thompson
A thing that once I held so dear
That should be a sign of Christmas cheer
Is now a memory calling from a distant year.
But at this point it's some kind of juxtaposed drear.
I have gotten used to Christmas weather deemed unconventional.
No reason to visit the place where snow was plentiful.
Sorrowful snow likes to remind me of-
Sleeping in the car
With rosy cheeks
Driving to the church
On Christmas eve
Lighting a candle
For "Silent Night"
Seeing my grandma's smile
In the candlelight.
I can picture the framed photos.
Of the now sorrowful snow
That comes and goes.
That used to be joyful not long ago.
How the snow casts a shadow
Over the downtown St. Paul glow.
What could make the snow ever so sorrowful
But the loss of people who once made me whole?
One is in heaven,
One can’t remember.
But maybe there will be snow this melancholy December.
No more snow now, maybe ice sheets
No more driving down the St. Paul streets.
Just a cold breeze, ‘cause of Carolina heats
But at least we still have holiday treats.
I won't forget the chill
Standing outside St. Paul Grill
The cozy house down on Clarence
That no longer belongs to my grandparents.
Snow may not mean joy again, I fear.
Do I laugh or shed a tear?
Sorrowful snow likes to remind me of-
The maple tree leaf
On the Maplewood signs
Christmas morning, now with grief
And dressing to the nines.
My ornaments from kindergarten hanging on the tree
Some breathtaking, some crafts
A frame of macaroni
Around a photograph
I can picture the framed photos.
Of the now sorrowful snow
That comes and goes.
That used to be joyful not long ago.
How the snow casts a shadow
Over the downtown St. Paul glow.
What could make the snow ever so sorrowful
But the loss of people who once made me whole?
Christmas will be just as happy
Even despite
The 2 hour flight.
I could reminisce for hours about a single snowflake
Or our footsteps circling around the lake
Stockings with our names in lace sewed in
All the memories from when we were children
Sure, we can watch polar express
But I don't think I can truly stress
The melancholy feeling that I get
Seeing the snow angels’ silhouette.
I used to love when we would go sledding
But now I don't like the direction this is heading.
I can picture the framed photos.
Of the now sorrowful snow
That comes and goes.
That used to be joyful not long ago.
How the snow casts a shadow
Over the downtown St. Paul glow.
What could make the snow ever so sorrowful
But the loss of people who once made me whole?
Sorrowful snow will always remind me of-
Lighting a candle
For "Silent Night"
Seeing my grandma's smile
In the candlelight.
Going to bed on Christmas eve,
But for now, I guess we will have to grieve.
by Erica Thompson
A thing that once I held so dear
That should be a sign of Christmas cheer
Is now a memory calling from a distant year.
But at this point it's some kind of juxtaposed drear.
I have gotten used to Christmas weather deemed unconventional.
No reason to visit the place where snow was plentiful.
Sorrowful snow likes to remind me of-
Sleeping in the car
With rosy cheeks
Driving to the church
On Christmas eve
Lighting a candle
For "Silent Night"
Seeing my grandma's smile
In the candlelight.
I can picture the framed photos.
Of the now sorrowful snow
That comes and goes.
That used to be joyful not long ago.
How the snow casts a shadow
Over the downtown St. Paul glow.
What could make the snow ever so sorrowful
But the loss of people who once made me whole?
One is in heaven,
One can’t remember.
But maybe there will be snow this melancholy December.
No more snow now, maybe ice sheets
No more driving down the St. Paul streets.
Just a cold breeze, ‘cause of Carolina heats
But at least we still have holiday treats.
I won't forget the chill
Standing outside St. Paul Grill
The cozy house down on Clarence
That no longer belongs to my grandparents.
Snow may not mean joy again, I fear.
Do I laugh or shed a tear?
Sorrowful snow likes to remind me of-
The maple tree leaf
On the Maplewood signs
Christmas morning, now with grief
And dressing to the nines.
My ornaments from kindergarten hanging on the tree
Some breathtaking, some crafts
A frame of macaroni
Around a photograph
I can picture the framed photos.
Of the now sorrowful snow
That comes and goes.
That used to be joyful not long ago.
How the snow casts a shadow
Over the downtown St. Paul glow.
What could make the snow ever so sorrowful
But the loss of people who once made me whole?
Christmas will be just as happy
Even despite
The 2 hour flight.
I could reminisce for hours about a single snowflake
Or our footsteps circling around the lake
Stockings with our names in lace sewed in
All the memories from when we were children
Sure, we can watch polar express
But I don't think I can truly stress
The melancholy feeling that I get
Seeing the snow angels’ silhouette.
I used to love when we would go sledding
But now I don't like the direction this is heading.
I can picture the framed photos.
Of the now sorrowful snow
That comes and goes.
That used to be joyful not long ago.
How the snow casts a shadow
Over the downtown St. Paul glow.
What could make the snow ever so sorrowful
But the loss of people who once made me whole?
Sorrowful snow will always remind me of-
Lighting a candle
For "Silent Night"
Seeing my grandma's smile
In the candlelight.
Going to bed on Christmas eve,
But for now, I guess we will have to grieve.
2014 STALL WALLS
"... In here I'm the person I want to be..." |
Stall Walls
by Alecz Yeager Head down, 3 steps Turn right, deep breaths Wait for stall number two Even though there are others to choose Go inside, sit down Finally stop looking down Check the door, pull out a pen Take advantage of your only friend Ask a question, write a line Draw a heart that says “He’s mine” Fight anonymous people on the wall I never want to leave this stall Tallies, swears, the saddest story Doodles, flyers, lyrics to “Edge of Glory” In here I’m confident, in here I lead In here I’m the person I want to be For 3 minutes every day I’m a queen in a stall The rest of the time I’m just a girl in the hall Paper and keyboards don’t suit me at all I’d much more prefer a bathroom stall wall |
2013 Scripted In Sand
2012 Undefined
|
Undefined
by Alecz Yeager It's unthinkable It's unsolvable It simply cannot be It's unbelievable It's unseekable It's undefined, can't you see? It's not here It's not there It's not reckless It's not care It's not loving It's not hating It's not questioning It's not stating It simply is undefined "...Because looks don't bind us to one sect of mankind and the truth that you will find is we are Undefined" |
2011 Quilted Silence
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Quilted Silence
by Alecz Yeager My thoughts are all wound up in thread My thumb sticks to the thimble The needle is pricking at my mind My work is quick and nimble Small pieces of fabric collide together, Each different but the same Each one tells a story Filled with smiles, tears, and pain My thoughts bind them together One per beat of my heart And now I stop to look at it Each story, Each beat, Each part This quilt now holds more words Than could ever, one day, be found And yet it makes no noise Not one, not a sound |
2010 Lost and Found
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Life's a Journey
by Kayla Stogner It's all come crashing down Your world is in shambles all around you Thought you knew what you were doing Thought this was the way to go You tumbled down that mountain That happiness is far up at the top You are never going to make it Why should you even bother? But then it's like your eyes are opened And you are seeing your surroundings for the first time You see the beauty and serenity of this place And the strategy for how you landed Your body could be all broken Your spirit could be mangled And then you see with great clarity That it's here you're supposed to be The top of the mountain was fun and safe But on this side you've moved farther away From all the dark and misery That was your past The light is brighter on this side You understand a little better now And feel much more at peace You know the battle isn't over It's hardly just begun But the next time you are stranded at the bottom After taking that long fall Just remember the feelings you are feeling now Know that good will always come "Stand your g r o u n d, look me in the e y e Tell the t r u t h and forget to l i e. Sleep at D a y, awake at N i g h t At the end of the tunnel, I see the light" |
2008 The Silver Side of Gray
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The Silver Side of Gray
by Dallas Bolin Our daily lives pass by, so bleak And often dulled away; Too caught up are we to see The Silver Side of Gray We go about as though entranced; Eyes averted all the day Commonplace things have blinded us To the Silver Side of Gray Lift now your gaze To the heavens above; See you not the rays Which struggle through The expansive gray, Vying for your view? All things present themselves, so meek, And struggle, so to say, To show the world there's more to them-- A Silver Side of Gray Acts of love and selflessness, And children's minds at play; Display a gentle pride, sublime; A Silver Side of Gray. Open your eyes, And focus now! For even men most wise Could never see Beyond the guise Of what they'll never be: Ones removed from mundane tasks, Their thoughts allowed to stray As they themselves transcend unto The Silver Side of Gray Yes...that's it; your eyes are open now. At least you can dare to say: "I am prepared to view the world From the Silver Side of Gray." |
2002 Flecks of Gold
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Flecked with Gold
by Rebecca Rawls Into them I gaze, set in that face I know so well, those loving, warm brown eyes, sparkling, and flecked with gold. They light up when he laughs; those amber-colored gateways into his soul, like tigers, flecked with gold. In their swirling depths I see a fiery passion, so rich, so bold. Time may age him, and age may change him, but those eyes will always be flecked with gold. |