2015 bvsd literary magazine, passage

Passage

Passage

The Boulder Valley School District

18th Annual Literary Magazine

Published by the Department of

Advanced Academic Services

March, 2015

Becky Whittenburg, editor

Elementary

Las Hadas

Hace mucho mucho tiempo habían unas hadas que se llamaban Clara y Xiomara, que eran las ayudantes de la reina. En la noche, el hada reina ponía un arcoiris magico que Xiomara y Clara usaban como una resbaladera para llegar al mundo de las hadas traviesas para recordarles que era hora de dormir. Cuando estaban regresando al castillo de la reina, una de las hadas traviesas se habia agarrado del pie de Clara sin que ella se diera cuenta, y cuando tocaron el piso, el hada Lili, que se habia vuelto invisible siguió a Clara y Xiomara hasta el castillo de la reina.

En la noche, cuando todos estaban dormidos, Lili entró al cuarto del Hada Reina de puntillas. Cuando entró vio un vestido, que era el vestido mas bonito que habia visto en toda su vida. Lo agarró y se dio cuenta de que el vestido tenía magia y que la magia se pegaba a sus manos al agarrarlo, asi que le sacó toda la magia al vestido y se fue de regreso al mundo de las hadas traviesas usando el arcoiris. Puso la magia en un vaso en su casa.

Lili quería la magia para que las hadas traviesas fueran al mundo de los humanos a través de un hoyo que solo el hada reina podía abrir con su magia. Lili agarró el vaso con magia y fue con otras tres hadas traviesas a donde estaba el hoyo. Atravesaron el hoyo y aparecieron en un parque en medio de la ciudad y una niña las vio y se sorprendió y fue corriendo donde su mamá y le dijo “Encontré unas hadas!.” Su mamá le respondió con cariño diciendo: “¡no existen las hadas!” Las hadas oyeron eso y pensaron “tenemos que hacer que su mamá crea en nosotras.” Así que volaron hasta donde estaba la mamá y la mamá las vió y se sorprendió. La mamá fue corriendo a su casa y le dijo a su esposo lo que habia visto y el esposo fue corriendo para decirle al hermanito y el hermanito le dijo al perro y el perro le dijo al gato y el gato le dijo al ratón y todos corrieron afuera para buscar a las hadas. Cuando llegaron al parque encontraron un hoyo que parecía un túnel y entraron para explorar si las hadas estaban adentro. Cuando llegaron al final del hoyo se encontraron con el hada reina que estaba muy preocupada. Ellos querían explorar el mundo de las hadas y el niño y la niña se fueron a jugar con las hadas. De pronto Clara y Xiomara, que estaban buscando la magia se dieron cuenta de que el hoyo estaba abierto y se fueron adentro para chequear si las hadas traviesas habían entrado en el mundo de los humanos. Lili se quería quedar para colectar dientes y Clara le dijo “A lo mejor te puedes quedar pero te tienes que llamar el hada de los dientes. Puedes colectar dientes pero tienes que dar dinero o cristales a los ninos que pierden sus dientes.” Y así fue como Lili se convirtió en un hada buena y su nombre ya no sería Lili sino Hada de los Dientes.

English Translation Following...

The Fairies

Long, long time ago there were two fairies, Clara and Xiomara, who were the queen’s helpers. At night, the Queen Fairy created a magic rainbow that Xiomara and Clara used as a slide to get to the world of the naughty fairies to remind them that it was time to go to sleep. When they were coming back to the queen’s castle, one of the naughty fairies took hold of Clara’s foot without her noticing, and when they reached the floor, Lili the fairy, who had become invisible, followed Clara and Xiomara to the queen’s castle.

At night, when everyone was asleep, Lili went tiptoeing into the Queen Fairy’s room. When she got in, she saw a dress, which was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She touched it and noticed that the dress had magic and the magic stuck to her hands, so she grabbed all the magic from the dress and went back to the world of the naughty fairies using the rainbow. She put the magic inside a glass when she got to her house.

Lili wanted the magic to let the naughty fairies travel to the world of the humans through a hole that only the queen fairy could open with her magic. Lili took the glass with the magic dust and went with other three naughty fairies to the place where the hole was. They went through the hole and ended up in a city park where they were seen by a little girl. The surprised girl went running to her mom and said, “I found fairies!”

Her mother gently replied, “Fairies don’t exist.” The fairies heard this and thought, “We need to make her mother believe in us.” They flew to where the mother was and the mother saw them and was surprised.

The mother run back home and told her husband what she had seen and her husband went running to tell the girl’s little brother, and the little brother told the dog, and the dog told the cat, and the cat told the mouse and everyone went running outside to look for the fairies. When they arrived at the park, they found a hole that looked like a tunnel. They went through it to check if the fairies were inside. When they arrived at the end of the tunnel, they found the queen fairy, who was very worried. They wanted to explore the world of the fairies. The girl and the boy went to play with the fairies. Suddenly, Clara and Xiomara, who were looking for the queen’s lost magic noticed that the hole was open and went inside to check if the naughty fairies had gone into the world of the humans. Lili wanted to stay to collect teeth, and Clara told her, “You may stay, but you need to change your name to Tooth Fairy. You can collect teeth, but you need to give money or crystals to the kids who lose their teeth.” And this is how Lili turned into a good fairy and her name was no longer Lili but Tooth Fairy.

Clara Nauth Bolaños Grade 1

Columbine Elementary Readers Choice Award

The Owl

The owl’s yellow glimmering eyes

Are the color of the sunset.

The owl

Stands on a branch

As still as the tree.

Its big, yellow eyes

Stare down from the aspen.

Its gigantic wings

Are ready to fly.

It sees a mouse

And glides down from his branch.

The owl

Sweeps up the mouse.

Reid Gannan Grade 1

Bear Creek Elementary

Untitled

Yo vengo de el dormitorio de mi abuela en donde hay una silla morada y puedo mirar afuera y ver todos los árboles.

Yo vengo de ir al parque y dormir debajo de los arbustos.

Yo vengo de hornear galletas de chocolate con mi abuela y comer fresas con azúcar.

Yo vengo de mi abuela y mi mamá que me aman hasta el fín.

Yo vengo de abrazar a mis conejitos que me dan mucho cariño.

Yo vengo de “Madame Butterfly”, “sweetheart” y “pumpkin pie”.

Yo vengo de mis jerbos.

Yo say Josie.

I come from my grandmother's bedroom where there is a purple chair and I can look out and see all the trees.

I come from going to the park and sleeping under the bushes.

I come from baking chocolate chip cookies with my grandmother and eating

strawberries with sugar.

I come from my grandmother and my mom who love me to the end.

I come from snuggling with my bunnies that give me great affection.

I come from "Madame Butterfly", "sweetheart" and "pumpkin pie".

I come from my gerbils.

I am Josie.

Josephine Briggs Grade 2

Pioneer Elementary

Nature’s Magic – A Year of Poems

Spring Blossoms blooming out your window Merrily content, While little flower fairies sit on their buds. A soft breeze, Singing a song To tell the fairy folks that spring is here. A sprinkling of rain That refreshes the fairy folk While dancing on the breeze. On the full moon that night, Fairies gather round, To sit on tiny toadstools And rejoice the presence of spring. Summer Fruit trees are blossoming, Gleaming with delight, For on every single branch Sits a fairy smiling bright. The radiant sun, The soft gentle breeze And the gentle shower of rain Make a perfect summer complete. On a cool summer night smelling sweetly of dew, The fairy folk feast on rose petals delight.

Fall The days are getting shorter And the fairy folk are painting the leaves, To shine a brilliant shine To decorate the kingdom. At midnight, The fairies sing joyfully While a band plays music galore. Quite a scene to see Under the soft glow of the moon.

Winter The ground is covered in a thick layer of snow, The fairies are inside resting From a summer full of fun. The wind is singing its song of the chilly nights to come, Swiftly swirling through the trees.

Aurelia Kembel Grade 3

University Hill Elementary

The Dragon that Ate the Moon

Whoosh! A dragon,

like an enormous green leaf. tail flickering intensely,

huge jaws gaping, orange eyes glaring,

large teeth coruscating, red frill swerving,

wings flap, flap, whoosh! Pink tongue drooling. Big dragon swooping.

Glittering teeth retrieving, devouring the moon.

Benjamin Brandt

Grade 3 Eisenhower Elementary

The First Day of School The day before we were moving to Boulder I tried to say goodbye to everything I had

explored. My name is Stella Milan and I live in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Tomorrow, as I said already, me and my mom, my dad, and my best friend Marsha’s family were moving to Boulder. So I decided to go to the poppy patch by our house which I knew very well. I was sad to leave.

That night I had a dream that I was under water, free from all my worries. When I woke up I was really unhappy to leave. There was a lot of pressure on me because we had to go to the airport to get on the plane to Boulder.

Finally, we arrived in Boulder! It was snowing there. (Nothing like Malaysia.) I was happy but inside I was nervous for school.

I was very nervous because I only spoke Malay! So that night I decided to see if I could learn English by the morning. Unfortunately, I couldn't, so then me and Marsha met at my house and talked and came up with a plan. We were going to stay quiet the whole day.

Finally, we were at school. My heart was beating out of my chest because I spoke no English. I didn’t understand anything. I sighed thinking I would never fit in. At recess I was sitting in a tree, playing with spider webs when a girl came up and said “Excuse me, but why are you not talking?” I didn’t know how to answer that so I just shook my head and she walked on.

I forgot to mention I have a dog called Adriana, who came with us from Malaysia. When I got back home I was sooooo happy to see her coming out to me. I went inside and told my parents that I didn’t want to go to school the next day. Mom understood, but convinced me to go anyway.

The day after that, I came into class with Marsha and there was a big banner that said SUMMER IS HERE STELLA AND MARSHA! in Malay. I was so happy and so was Marsha.

That afternoon I told my parents all about it. I then went outside with Adriana and we ran down the hill in the yard. I had a happy day and I thought tomorrow would be even better.

The next day was Saturday and Dad promised to take me and Marsha to the farmers’ market. Marsha’s little brother Nor, stayed home because he had a play date with his new friend Matthew who was in first grade with him. At the farmers’ market we got lots of vegetables and fruits. The signs helped me learn more English.

When we got back I discovered a wheat field behind our house. I had not explored the whole area yet.

At home I drew a picture of me in summer in Malaysia because I was homesick. When I went to bed, I thought about school. I knew a little English but I needed to learn more.

The next day after school, I received a letter from grandma. It was in Malay. Then I wrote back to her and said that I had learned a little English! And you know what? I actually think I fit in now! I do. So does Marsha. I now love my school!

Rose Paine

Grade 3 Columbine Elementary

My Family

My father is an alien,

He comes from outer space

And when I try to talk to him

He makes a funny face.

My mother is a monster,

And she lives in a cave

When I want to visit her

I must be really brave.

My sister is an astronaut,

And she goes to the moon

But because I miss her terribly

She’s back by afternoon.

I myself am normal,

As plain as one could be

It’s really quite surprising

With such a family

Helen Elizabeth Scarborough

Grade 3 Eisenhower Elementary Readers Choice Award

The Object of Doom!

The neon yellow snake, Slithering over the carefully written words,

Smooth, shiny, Rubbing across the paper,

Illuminating everything in its way As if the words were just plugged in,

Bright yellow like a Styrofoam noodle in the swimming pool, Gliding across the paper,

With the beautifully written words. Smudging them, Smearing them,

The royal stander-outer, Making words stick out.

Eleanor Ohm

Grade 4 Bear Creek Elementary

Before the Journey

Snow daintily laced the bare trees. Overturned boats lined the shores of the vast Danube river. The cheery twittering of the birds lightened the air. My great grandmother, Nebahat, who was then a child watched the river covered in thick ice. She laid a solemn foot upon the ice capping the river. Her chest was filled with a daring feeling as she crossed the Danube. She gazed lovingly about the river, wondering how she could ever leave Romania. Two nights earlier her father announced that they had to leave their home before the War starts. The sun’s pink rays streaked the sky. She pulled her shawl tighter over herself, shivering. She couldn’t wait to reach the warmth of the wood stove at the Tailor Shop where she had been working since she

was eight. When she arrived at the other side she followed a path soggy with snow melting. The small wooden shop had a delicately engraved door knob of a chirping bird. Inside the shop was the wood stove on which she sometimes made tea. There were large windows, and racks of finely made fabrics and outfits. An image of the little girls learning to sew came to her mind when she saw the empty tables. She remembered the day when she had first seen her closest friend Ayse. At first they both were shy and gazing at the floor, but when their eyes finally met, they both felt the warmth ensuring their long friendship. As she did every morning Nebahat opened the curtains, swept the floor, put wood into the stove and coal in the coal iron. A little later, when the sun had fully risen the girls arrived. A cheerful chatter rose amongst them as they waited for the Headmaster. The door creaked as she walked in. She was wearing her usual black overcoat with her brown hair neatly tucked under an elegant hat. Nebahat recalled when she first wore a hat with a tall, pheasant’s feather in it. The girls couldn’t help but giggling. A few hours went by with regular duties. When it was lunch time, Nebahat gathered her belongings wrapped up in a cloth sack. She had been coming to the shop almost every day for the last five years. Everything she had fit into the little sack. She hugged it close. Before she left she handed Ayse a handkerchief she had embroidered as a farewell gift. She pressed her friend to her heart for the last time and left. Nebahat decided to take the longer path on her way back home. She strolled through the park where they used to eat their lunch. She sniffed the sweet smell of bread drifting through the window as she passed by the bakery. The Town Plaza was quiet today with only a few vendors selling their goods. Gray clouds veiled the sky now. She paused a moment to peer at the tattered books at the bookstore where she spent many delightful hours immersed in stories. Nebahat finally arrived at their neighborhood. It was peaceful and charming. She glanced at their old neighbor’s house. They used to have tea and conversations on simple daily topics. Nebahat’s eyes ventured to where another friend lived. They had spent wonderful hours writing poems in a quiet corner of her garden. She climbed up the porch and entered the living room. Light cascaded through the windows. Nebahat ran up the staircase into her room. It was small but quite pleasant. She sighed, waited a moment and grasped her belongings she had packed the day before. Her parents were waiting downstairs. They hesitantly walked together to the horse carriage. Their old horse Tulip had helped the family with their chores for years. She had specks like silver stars. The neighbor promised to take care of her after they left. The pleasing sound of the horse galloping on

cobblestones relieved her. Raindrops started dancing through the bleak sky. They arrived at the port. Her house, the Tailor Shop and everything that made her childhood was visible from here. She wished she wouldn’t have to leave. On the ferry she thought of her beloved home and tears filled her eyes. Then she reminded herself of the new life and the opportunities ahead of her in Turkey. She glanced back one last time then with a firm smile she confidently started the Journey.

Belisa Alptekin Grade 4

Mesa Elementary

Untitled

Hawk Large, aggressive

Soaring, diving, spying Searching, scary, scared, taking cover

Scurrying, shaking, scavenging Small, weak

Mouse

Charlotte Marriott Grade 4


A Haiku

A haiku is small About harmony and joy

It’s five, seven, five

Jenna Brzezinski

Grade 4 Lafayette Elementary

Arizona Red Rocks Precarious rock

It seems to just be waiting For the next earthquake

Natalie Pujet Grade 4


Rainstorm

Black clouds swirling high A musty scent in the air Millions of wet bombs

Sebastian Pujet


The Bunny There’s a fluffy bunny in the Backyard, munching and Crunching on yucky Vegetables Don’t tell mom!

Charlotte Staniforth Grade 4

Lafayette Elementary

Places in the World

There are places in the world I really want to go,

From Africa to Antarctica and places I don’t know.

I was born in Scotland in a village called Stirling.

Where the national sports are soccer, rugby and curling.

Our holidays in France were magical and free,

We danced in the village streets and always said ‘merci’,

Italy we visited to see my grandpa’s home,

We ate a lot of pasta and ate our way round Rome.

But now I’m in America in a town called Louisville,

It’s very close to Boulder with views of all the hills,

I skate and ski in winter, and love the falling snow,

And have to wrap up warm when it’s 25 below.

There are still so many places that I would love to go,

But where to start my journey, I may never know . . .

Gambia and Zambia and places in between,

Morocco and Mongolia and even small Benin!

Kate Henderson Grade 4

Coal Creek Elementary

Weeble and Wobble

We’re tiny kittens loved by all but impurrfect. Instead of walking surely on our feet and making a swipe at just the right time to catch the mouse suspended above our heads, our steps are jerky, like a game with bad programming, and our swipes hit the air a few inches off from the mouse. Some disease wormed its way into our mother when we were two weeks due and made us impurrfect. The perfect white kitten was gone within a day. The tall girl with strong hands took him away. Happy were the calicos, a peppy kitten couple, when a husband and wife, brand new in marriage, took them home, to a place to stay. But we, the impurrfect kitten brothers, worry that there is no way that we, the impurrfect kitten brothers, will ever find our place to stay. Please take us home today. (Weeble and Wobble have since been adopted from the shelter!)

Lily Quail Nobel Grade 4


In the Dark

Sometimes noises seem scarier in the dark

any creaking stair could be a monster ready to jump out

at you any gust of wind could be a ghost

about to swoop down and attack

every moan could be a zombie

coming to slurp

your brains when the Sun

comes up and you hear the sizzling of frying bacon

you are relieved that the darkness has melted away

like butter in a hot pan

Sydney Wilcox

Grade 4 Fireside Elementary

Fall Mountain

Brilliant bursts of color like birds of paradise Scattering feathers on the trees

A wind rustles the leaves The sun is playing tag with the breeze

Neither ever winning The stones glitter in the morning sunlight The stream has cooled, waiting for winter The rocks are keeping summer with them

Until the end The place resonates a happy feeling

Smaller plants reach to the sky Jealous of the beautiful trees

The crisp mountain air Makes everything

Peacefully Happily

Smile The forest is beckoning to the sunlight

To reach through the canopy and nourish the ground The fall mountain gives life to everything

Even death.

Simon Mollborn Grade 4


A Thousand Worlds Away I stand at the edge of a peaceful aspen tree forest, the leaves gleaming as they rustle and dance in the howling wind. Big grey clouds on either side of the mountains move quickly toward each other, towering over the mountains as if daring them to reach their height.

A deer gracefully dashes past me, heading to the river to get an icy drink of water. A bear stands farther down the river and I catch a glimpse of a rainbow trout leaping and dancing to the bear’s left.

I spot a squirrel scampering up the trunk of a white aspen. I hear the sweet, cheerful songs of robins, golden finches, and chickadees.

A woodpecker pecks on a white aspen trunk to the right of me, making a sound like a drum but without the lasting sound, yet it still sounds musical. A mountain lion slinks past me, its golden fur glittering in the lasting sunlight before it turns to the golden forest. Another mountain lion slinks

by, but this time its fur brushes my hip. I hear thunder rumble in the distance ominously.

The deer heads back toward me and I reach out my hand to touch her brown silk fur. A white gyrfalcon perches on my shoulder, and a feather sailing toward me lands in my hand, its soft feeling comforting me.

I glance at the mountains again, this time one that seems to be in a shadow of the snow-covered one, as if bowing down to it. The gyrfalcon lets out a piercing cry and boosts off my arm.

Wind howls around me. it seems like the four Greek wind gods have all been released.

I walk over to the river and sit next to it. The distant smell of rain hangs in the air.

I take out a water bottle, feeling the icy water rush down my throat. I take out some soft bread, a block of

white cheese, some berries, and some sweet, milky butter. The wind leads the smell of honeyed bread, tender berries, and the sharp smell of cheese to my nose.

I begin to eat, feeling sad and proud at the same time. I hope I can come back to this extraordinary place.

I glance up one more time at the mountains, their danger and beauty shown out to me. Leaves crunch under my footsteps and one lands in my hair as they peacefully glide down.

The sun slowly disappears behind the mountains. The moon starts to come out, like a wolf coming out of its den.

I hear an owl hoot and a wolf howl. I start heading back to our cozy log cabin, feeling like I’m a thousand worlds away.

Grace Thompson Grade 4


Flight

The wing tips twitch Itching to fly

The sky looks inviting No matter how high

A bird on a perch

Surrounded by bars If it had the chance

It would fly to the stars

Rory Armstrong Grade 5

Flatirons Elementary

Float Boat

Spheres like planets Drift through the abyss

Of the blue galaxy The balloons after a birthday party

Spheres rippling Bobbing in the breeze

Peaceful and silent Softly slowly shifting

Sabrina Feld

Grade 5 Bear Creek

Starlight lanterns

Starlight lanterns glow Illuminating the night

Brighter than the moon

Grace Biesterfeld Grade 5

Eisenhower Elementary

Nighttime Lagoon

Tall stalks dance all night Crickets chirp and sing rhythms

Ripples make music

Grace Biesterfeld Grade 5


Quiet

There are so many things to do

So much is going on

rushing around

doing things

barely on time

At least I have a break right now

It is the weekend

It is like a tiny vacation

I sit on the porch in the afternoon

watching the grass wave

In the sunlit backyard

Nature

I never realized how beautiful nature can be

with us rushing around and all

It is Quiet

I watch nature

I enjoy the quiet

Nature

Evan Toth Grade 5

Coal Creek Elementary

Colorado

I am from the mountains covered in snow I am from the rivers as they flow, I am from the pine trees filled with spikes I am from mountain towns where people take hikes. I am from the hill where kids play I am from hot chocolate on snowy days, I am from rocks where people get cut, I am from trees that can’t grow a nut. I am from a sunny field on a summer day, I am from cozy covers where I lay I am from a very pretty place, yes Colorado a very pretty place.

Chloe Fraser Grade 5

Foothill Elementary

Forgot

She stole our moments Burned them in a fire, Put the ashes on a tray And hand it to me, I cried myself to sleep Every night Every week He took her hand And danced to the beat He softly let his lips Have a passionate kiss And roughly erased Our memories of bliss She started to rip and rip Then he joined in And now my heart Is just a pile of nothingness

Annessa Buggy


Why I am Proud of Becoming Bilingual

I am proud of becoming bilingual because I can take care of people who cannot communicate when they are away from home. Then little boys and girls can come to me to explain why they are sad. I can also help our country more if I am bilingual. I hope I am an inspiration to others so they learn a second language.

Rachael Stratman

Grade 5 Columbine Elementary

Applause

When the show ends the crowd applauds

Hands chatter through the room Some stand

Some sit Some don’t even

do anything They just sit there

silently watching

As the doors open Everybody leaves besides the magic that lays behind the red curtain

Annessa Buggy Grade 5


Alternate ending to All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury

She looked at them with her pale blue eyes, her cheeks no longer carrying the red stain of tears. The children felt guilt, a guilt as deep as thunder, as heavy as all the rain above them, as it flooded into them. Margot did not do anything, she just kept staring at them, and then she suddenly turned and walked swiftly out of the room, like a lion leaving its prey. It would have been better if she had yelled at them, not kept that forbidding silence that held their guilt.

“Well, she’s out now,” said William. “Who wants to play tag?” This yanked the children out of their daze and soon they were all arguing over who would be it.

That night Margot returned to her little room, which was more like a cave, and cried waves of tears, for everything, for the children and how mean they were to her, for the teacher, who had failed to notice that something was wrong, for the sun, because it had gone too fast, but mostly for herself, because she had waited five years to see the sun, and now it was gone for seven more years.

Margot stopped crying abruptly, and went to sleep on the little blanket that served as her bed. It was in these little moments of crying or screaming that people knew there was still a spirit inside of her, still some feeling. But Margot preferred not to let people to find a weakness, so she kept her thoughts to herself, silent as an ant walking on a leaf.

The next day at school, Margot stuck to the back of the room, as usual, and looked up at the board for their first assignment. Today, it was to get a cup of water, pair up with somebody, and see how you could change a stick of wood using only the water. Nobody wanted to pair up with Margot, of course, especially after yesterday, so she just got a cup and a stick of wood and started working. You were allowed to use your hands for holding, and nothing else. William tried to snap the stick in half with his hands, but the teacher caught him. Margot tried dipping hers in the water, seeing if it would do anything, but right at that moment, the teacher came up to her, which she rarely did.

Margot dropped the stick in surprise and saw tiny droplets leap up into the air, then plop back into the water. Just like the sun. It had leapt up into the sky, and fallen back down leaving a cold, wet world after it all too soon. Margot turned her head.

“Margot, your parents have decided to come for you as soon as possible.” said the teacher. At first, Margot was so shocked she let her mouth fall open. “They say they’ll be able to reach you by this afternoon,” continued the teacher. “So you’d better go pack.”

And that is what she did. Margot walked for half an hour to her room, and grabbed her blanket, her locket, and her most treasured item; her painting of the sun. Back in Ohio, her mom had taken her to a little shop filled with paintings and bought her a painting.

“I want that one, Mommy,” Margot had said, pointing at the painting with the great flares and colors lashing out at her. “I’d like that one.”

As said, a rocket ship landed on Venus that afternoon. Billowing smoke, Margot walked toward it, with her class close behind.

“Say goodbye to Margot, class.” said their teacher. A chorus of “Goodbye, Margot!”s trickled down the line. Margot was about to step behind the doors of the rocket when someone shouted.

“Wait!” William stepped to the front of the line and looked back at the class. “We probably should have done this earlier, but we wanted to say we’re sorry.” The whole class apologized and at that moment looked very ashamed.

A flicker of surprise showed in Margot’s eyes, but it vanished quickly. All that was left was the icy stare she gave them, and then she spun around and disappeared through the rocket doors.

William watched as the rocket grew tinier and tinier up in the sky. Then, something caught his eye. Right where Margot had been standing, before she got in the rocket, was a pair of footprints. And they were glowing like two, tiny suns.

Annika Holecek

Grade 5 Superior Elementary

Paper

Paper A head appears

A fearsome beast Pencil slashes

With wings, talons, And claws

A mouth of fangs With teeth on edge

Smudge of lead Flames flicker in the fire of the dragon

Vines appear a thick stone wall Kindling his fire

A tail sprouts out Pencil rolling about

A long thick club Tree sprout Forests call

Pencil dancing on the paper Spikes pierce Armor scale Talon scrape Earthen wall

Pencil scratch Fire crack Dragon fall

Scale to scale on firewall

Benno Mercer Cho Grade 5


Untitled I stood before my great grandfather, knowing it would be the last time I ever saw him. I remembered every second of the plane ride to Norway. My dad had been tired from fighting in the war but still insisted we should come to see great grandpa Eric “Jason,” my dad said softly, snapping me out of my memories, “It’s time to go.” “Okay dad.” I managed to say. “Wait,” grandpa croaked. He pointed at a red hat. “Take that hat as a memory of our time together.” “Yeah, sure grandpa,” I replied as I walked out the door blinking tears out of my eyes. Later that night, I decided I needed to wear the last memory of my grandpa. As soon as the cap touched my head, my grandpa appeared in a flash of blue light, as real as he will ever be. I got up so suddenly, the hat fell of my head and my grandpa disappeared. I realized there was something very special about my hat. I put the hat back on, and my grandpa reappeared.

“Hello Jason.” “Hi grandpa.” I replied tackling him with a hug.

“Now was that really necessary.” my grandpa asked. “Sure thing grandpa.” I said smiling, knowing I would get to see him again.

Isaac Christensen Grade 5


One of my Dad’s Responsibilities

When my dad was a teenager he used to live in a place where there

was not a lot of money, and so there was little food. As a result, he used to

“steal” the sewing needles that his mother (my grandmother) used. The

reason he had to “steal” them was that sewing needles were expensive. The

sewing needles at his house were treasured, and his grandmother probably

wouldn’t approve. He would take them, put them into the furnace that was

being used to cook and heat the house, and wait until they were red-hot.

Then, he would bend them with pliers into a hook to use as a fish hook.

This was easy to do as the needles were made of steel and had

carbon impurities in them which made them very flexible. Surprisingly, his

homemade hooks actually worked. He would catch some small fish native to

the waters like perch, and bring them home. His hooks were not barbed,

though, and sometimes fish would escape. He probably fed the small fish he

caught to the cat they owned, and Grandma cooked the larger fish.

I imagine Grandma was rather annoyed when she saw him carrying

fish, and roughly bent piece of metal that looked suspiciously like a needle, but

happy that he caught some fish.

These experiences gave my dad wisdom beyond learning how to work

metal and fish. He learned to never take anything for granted, even basic

necessities. Now that he is grown up, he always works hard for things. In our

family, there is a saying, “Just good enough is never good enough.” He always

makes whatever he does as close to perfect as possible. So not having

enough food, and having to fish for food himself, gave Dad a trait that will last

a lifetime and will nourish me, too.

Haiyan Wang Grade 5


In a Shell

In a shell

I sit

waiting.

someone

will find me

Someone

will finally

discover me

hidden well

shining

like a

treasure

Novella Spielman

Grade 5 Flatirons Elementary

The Black Cat Black cat hides in night

Eyes glowing moons in darkness She hunts for the dawn

Catherine Huber

Grade 5 Eisenhower Elementary

Wind Energy

Imagine your lights go out, then, imagine if the entire world’s lights went out. Imagine the world without oil. That’s right, if oil runs out there will be no power. Fossil fuels are running out and we need another, more sustainable resource. Wind is the answer. Wind power has been used for thousands of years, but it is needed more now that fossil fuels are running out. There is always going to be wind.

Wind is created when warm air above the earth expands and heats. This causes it to rise. Then cool air tries to take its place. So, the cold air pushes out the warm air because it is more dense than the warm air. This causes the air to swirl and move which makes wind!

Wind power is used and harnessed when the wind moves the blades of a wind turbine. The blade of a motor and the power created by that go to generators, buildings, and homes. By the way, wind turbines can be big or small. A wind turbine can be a tiny paper pinwheel that could get blown away in the wind, but it could also be a gigantic 15 story tall turbine that creates power for 1,000 homes! The idea is the same, the wind moves blades and creates energy. Generally speaking, though, you are not going to use a paper pinwheel to create power for anybody’s home.

How much is wind power used? Wind power is being used at a high rate now. A lot of people use it, and a lot of countries, too. In the US alone, 50% of the population “strongly Favor” wind power, and only 3% “Strongly Oppose.” In Great Britain 38% “Strongly Favor” and in France 33% “Strongly Favor.” Wind power is actually the fastest growing energy source in the world right now. There is global wind power cumulative capacity of 318.1 gigawatts. In 2011, eighty-three countries were using wind power commercially. Also, generally local companies will create wind turbines, so if you see a wind turbine in Colorado, chances are it was brought by NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) because they are right down the road in Golden. Quite a few windmills in Colorado are made in Pueblo. But the wind turbine was probably sponsored by the DOE (Department of Energy). The DOE is the bigger, broader energy department. Quite a few wind turbines are made by Siemens. Siemens is a wind turbine company that makes wind turbines basically. They also help with other means of energy.

Have you ever been in a boat? Maybe a sailboat? The reason that it moves is because the wind moves the sails. There is lots of wind over the ocean so that is the best place for a wind farm! Some of the largest wind farms are offshore. There are four different levels that wind farms can be on. The first level is Land based. The second level is Shallow Water, which is 0-30m. The third level is

Transitional Depth which is about 30-60m. And the last level is Deepwater-Floating, which is anything deeper than 60m.

There are some huge wind farms in the world that produce humongous amounts of energy. The largest offshore wind farm, the London Array, is just off the coast of England. This wind farm produces approximately 630 MW which is 126 times the MW that the average locomotive uses. Also, in case you are wondering, a MW or megawatt is a unit of energy measurement. A megawatt is equal to 1,000,000 watts! The largest wind farm in the world is the Gansu Wind Farm Project in China. It is a group of wind farms. When it is finished, it will produce 90,000 MW annually! The second largest wind farm in the world is the Alta Wind Energy Center which is in the Mojave Desert. It produces about 1,690 MW annually.

Are wind turbines dangerous? In some cases, yes. If you ever see a wind turbine, stay clear. They can be dangerous and chances are you are trespassing. Sometimes the brakes on a wind turbine can fail! It can crash and fall when it reaches the maximum rotation capacity. This phenomenon is quite dangerous and happens rarely. When it does it looks really cool though, but it is really dangerous! What usually happens is the blades fly off still spinning and swirling through the air, then the base will often buckle and fall on the ground. Wind turbines can also kill birds! It is very sad but scientists are resolving it. This happens when birds do not see the blades because they are spinning fast. The birds get chopped up. Yuck! Scientists are resolving this by making larger wind turbines that move slower and are more visible.

What kinds of things are wind farms used for? A lot of wind farms are used for homes because we need energy from something besides coal and oil. But wind energy is used for even more things. If you are ever surfing, wind surfing, sailing, skating, or flying a kite, you are using wind energy. Isn’t wind fun? But how is it used for things other than fun and games? Remember when I said that wind had been used for thousands of years? Yeah? Well now I will explain. Some of the first known uses of wind power date back to ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used wind to sail down the river Nile. The Persians used windmills to grind grain, and the Netherlandish people used it to pump water so that their country did not flood.

Wind is a very interesting topic with lots of cool facts and ideas. I mean, it’s cool to think ancient Egyptians used wind like we do today, right? Wind power is a sustainable source of power and should be considered for powering buildings. Think about how it can improve out world and help us light the Earth!

Dillon Bush Grade 5


Homework

Hours

Of

My

Energy

Wasted

On

Ridiculous

Kid torture

Nicholas Copanas Grade 5

Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer

Before the White People Before the white people,

with ships of wood and sails of cloud, appearing upon

the endless blue.

Our arrows flew, quicker than birds,

embedded in the pelt of deer, before the shadow of sickness

descended upon us.

We walked in forests, through the green trees,

crunching softly in the undergrowth. Tracking birds,

plucking berries, life before the white people came.

After we traded,

with the people from the sea, our healers danced,

with rattles like snakes, around the sick,

but it did no good.

Then, white people began to fight

with stocks of wood, releasing flashes and bangs,

scaring away the deer.

We were disgraced, forced from our sacred land,

our treaties dishonored, our culture lost, Fallen to abyss.

Our tribe remains today, but our religion,

close to forgotten, few practice the original beliefs,

few stand up to the tide of injustice,

we can only hope, that one day,

someone will remember the stories of the

Iroquois.

Haiyan Wang


Pi Deconstructed

3. Pi untold 1 Now 4 Infinite depth 1 Vast 5 Glorious number 9 Expanding again and again and 2 Again 6 Forever eternal 5 Pi, wondrous number 3 Enduring 5 Pi, fascinating 8 Such a simple idea, pi 9 Continuing till the end of time 7 The Archimedes constant 9 Intriguing people for centuries 3 Fractalling 2 Outward 3 Perpetual 8 Beauty of a circling number 4 Never ending 6 Coiling of a number 2 Unbound 6 It stretches on and on 4 Worldly pi 3 Immortal 3 Never gone 8 Reflected in all life, flawless 3 Ratio 2 of a 7 circumference, diameter 9 Always dividing to the same place 5 Amazing, stunning

Mia Silver

Grade 5 Douglass Elementary

Crowd

people come and go swarm and scatter can’t see over millions of heads find a gap push through jostled shoved again squished between a sandwich with me in the middle I move more when I don’t move at all pushed to the front then to the back left right noises filling my ears and my eyes my nose and my mouth even my fingers hear the loud sound overwhelming Weave through a path made by the moving group try to leave path blocked in a cage no matter how hard I try can’t leave can’t stay too much noise yet too little my senses are too full of activity I want to curl up in a ball close my eyes plug my ears and think about nothing but I can’t my mind and my body want only one thing OUT

Lizzy Newman


Middle School

Shadows

Shadows flicker on the walls, Become deeper as darkness falls, Fight the voices as they call, The fight is all in vain, Darkness no light, Losing the fight, Death is in sight, Prepare to face the pain. A battle of wills and you will lose, Surrender? It’s up to you to choose, Would you put your own neck through the noose? You say the answer is No, Darkness no light, losing the fight, Death is in sight, Don’t run, there’s nowhere to go. You think you’re quite strong, You won’t last very long, For your hope is gone, As the horrible shadows advance, Darkness no light, Losing the fight, Death is in sight, Not even a miniscule chance. Surrounded by shadows and fading away, For the first time ever, begin to pray, Beg for mercy as down you lay, To succumb to the powers of night… But if there are shadows, there must be light.

Tera Toor Grade 6

Casey Middle

The Universe

Everyone we ever knew. Every cold raindrop we tasted. Every ray of sunshine we felt on our faces. Every time we stood in the damp sand and felt the chill of the waves wash over our toes. Every soaring bird we wished we could be, every sprint to the finish line, every last lick of ice-cream, we've experienced on Earth. A heaving, rolling beauty, sometimes torn apart, but always somehow put back together. Beyond the lowest, above the highest, lies a mostly unknown world. A forever sea of thick black ink, peppered with millions upon millions of warm, twinkling stars. Planets looming in size, bright, swirling galaxies swept with blue, in washed-out green, painted in yellow and kissed with pink. Hidden worlds of vast exotic places. Comets that leave a breath of hot silky colors. Intricate yet simple glowing constellations, telling stories and unwinding the past we wish to believe in. A sea of color, light, emotions, movements, thoughts and feelings. A scary, exciting, colorful, dark, endless home. Beyond there may be unknown wonders, or just miles of stars. This is where we are and where we will always be. It is shifting as soft and slow as a breath, or as fast and perseverant as a heartbeat. Embrace it.

El Universo Cada ser que conocimos. Cada gota de agua fría que probamos. Cada rayo de sol que sentimos en nuestras caras. Cada vez que nos paramos en la húmeda arena y sentimos el frío de las olas que bañaban nuestros pies. Cada pájaro ascendiente que deseábamos ser, cada carrera veloz a hacia la meta, cada helado que saboreamos, lo hemos experimentado en la Tierra. Una belleza abultada, rodante, a veces desgarrada pero de alguna manera siempre unida nuevamente. Más allá de lo más bajo, por encima de lo más alto, se encuentra un mundo mayormente desconocido. Un mar de para siempre compuesto de gruesa tinta negra, salpicado con millones y millones de cálidas y centelleantes estrellas.

Planetas de inminente tamaño, turbulentas constelaciones brillantes barridas con azul, con verde desteñido, pintadas de amarillo y besadas con rosado. Mundos ocultos de vastos lugares exóticos. Cometas que dejan un aliento de colores calientes sedosos. Sencillas pero intricadas constelaciones resplandecientes, contando historias y desenrollando aquel pasado en el cual deseamos creer. Un mar de color, luz, emociones, movimiento, pensamientos y sentimientos Un oscuro hogar aterrador, emocionante, lleno de color, sin fin. Más allá podrían encontrarse maravillas desconocidas, o simplemente millas de estrellas. Aquí es donde nos encontramos y donde siempre nos encontraremos Se desplaza tan suave y lento como un aliento, o tan rápido y perseverante como el latido de un corazón. Aprovéchalo. .

Mia Griffith Grade 6

Angevine Middle

Image of a Dream

The prairie wind smelled like sunshine and summer.

A huge blue bowl of sky arched overhead, graced with three gossamer clouds

floating leisurely with the wind.

It was a perfect day for a celebration.

Suddenly, right before me, a brilliant light flashed.

As the lucent flash cleared, a human took form.

Her eyes were sparkling, and gave the illusion of a rainbow.

Her nose and chin sharp were and poised.

Her cheeks were pink, and a smattering of freckles gave her a laughing look.

Her mouth was full and red, accentuated by her hair the color of a sunset.

Her slippered feet silently brushed the verdant ground as the fairy-woman

stepped towards me.

She truly was the most ethereal creature I had ever seen.

And with the most joyful and horrible realization, I recognize her.

Lola D’Onofrio

Grade 6 Platt Choice

The Hawk

The hawk sits lonely,

on a dead branch.

his chest is puffed out with pride,

he refuses to swallow.

Even on sunny,

summer days,

the wind will whip around him.

Will the hawk spread his wings to fly?

No.

The hawk sits lonely,

on a dead branch.

Eliana Feistner Grade 6

Platt Middle

Flight

The air-tight compartment buzzes with those ready for the journey sitting in anticipation for their destination. Smooth grainy looking walls rumble as the wheels go over the bumps and crevices of the worn down runway streaked with the remaining droplets of a late afternoon rain shower. The dark grey clouds begin to cover the entire sky as fully as a spilled bottle of clumpy ink, yet as slowly as an overly descriptive novel. Creating an effect that puts those beneath and above on edge, leaving them to look

up more than is strictly necessary, or to take cover . . . to hide, from the sky. But the sky is simply grey, for it, much like ourselves, is always looking for a change. Whether it will be a rainy day covering all windows in droplets of water that are so similar it seems they were put there by someone with an eye-dropper Or perhaps a day filled with thunder clouds and lightning streaks ripping through the sky like a pair of scissors cutting fabric. Other people believed that there were gods that controlled the sky, the earth,

and all of us. I can’t see how that could be true I don’t think there is a ruling force that runs our world. People ask why? But I can only reply I don’t see how anything can control something as powerful As the sky.

India Turner Grade 7

Monarch K-8

The Broken Pencil lying in a corner only one half remaining to others it is worthless but to me it is the remnant of my memories long gone my carefree first grade years encased in a pencil lying in a corner

Kevin Yang Grade 7

Summit Middle

Ascent

oxygen canister on full blast, it seems tho' many hours have past oxygen canister on a smooth and steady flow, it seems we have many hours to go fatigue wraps its wings around me, I give into insanity hysteria follows, not far- the doors of death left ajar

Olivia Hyde Grade 7

Louisville Middle

Untitled

She began to fall She had chosen this destiny She fell and then she flew

Luna Graham Grade 7

Southern Hills Middle

Untitled I adjusted my headphones, making sure they wouldn’t fall out. I

pressed my index finger to the volume button, drowning out my surroundings. After clicking the small circular button multiple times, I realized that I was at max volume and couldn’t go any higher. I curled up next to the musty window, focusing my gaze on the passing cars and vehicles. I felt a harsh tap on my shoulder. I ignored it, assuming it was an accident, only for another tap, this one harder, to follow. I swiftly pulled an earbud out, turning around to face the “tapper”. “Yes?” I asked in an annoyed tone. It was a freshman, I don’t know his name, but I’ve seen him around before. “I can hear your music, kid.” He said in a snarky tone. Funny he says that, since I’m older than him, I couldn’t help but think. I just shrugged, turning back to the window. I could practically hear him roll his eyes, if that’s possible.

The bus lurched forward, causing my head to smack the seat in front of me. “Watch it!” Someone hissed, most likely the person I just rammed in the back. I didn’t reply. I just waited for the freshman to exit his seat, so I could do the same. I snatched my backpack, maneuvering my way up to front of the bus.

I entered my school, reminding myself to keep my head down. I headed to my first period, knowing I’d probably be late. I quickened my pace, until I was at the point of running. I halted at the door of classroom C46, catching my breath. I peered through the small rectangular window, seeing that my teacher was in the middle of instructing the class. I sighed deeply and quietly walked in the room, desperately trying to not be noticed. I took my seat and the back, earning many glares from my peers and teacher. After 30 minutes of droning, I honestly didn’t think I could take it anymore. I felt my vision darken and my head lower. Don’t fall asleep! I mentally scolded myself. I finally gave in, my eyelids shutting completely. Bang! My head shot up, my eyes searching the room for the source of the noise. To my dismay, I saw 3 people that I wish I would never have to see again. I hastily pulled my hood over my head, knowing that it was no use. Students around me screamed, flailing around like idiots. Instantaneously, the room was consumed with the all too familiar violet smoke, causing everyone around me to collapse. If only I wasn’t immune. I attempted to pretend I was also unconscious, but it would never work. One of the three conscious figures approached my desk. His hands slamming down on the false wood desk. Making me involuntarily jump. Cover blown. I glared at the back of his hands. “We’ve found her.” He said in a gravelly voice. Oh god.

Kaya N. McCoy Grade 7

Casey Middle

The Burden of Wings The lightning crackles like long branching splinters splitting a smooth wooden table. Earsplitting rumbles of thunder fill the chilled, silent air that seems to wait as still and unwavering as a dead man’s thoughts. Yet we continue forward. untouched and unscathed. The bird’s silent wings caress the sky as they carry the weight of the atmosphere on their backs, this moment only a millisecond in a life of servitude. If there is a god in our world he shows us no mercy.

India Turner

Grade 7 Monarch K-8

What I Have Seen and Heard I am the uncaged bird,

who trills and sings of freedom and whose heartbeat matches

the strikes of feather-thatched wings.

I see the endless sky above, a soft shade of velvet blue

darkening around the edges and speckled with sparkling stars.

I hear the undying rush

of effervescent water in bubbling streams.

I see a single swan, drifting with grace in a liquid mirror

by a worn-down dock.

I hear seabirds call, in the hazy heat of the day,

with the crashing of white-capped waves

on shores of golden sand.

I have tasted the colors of sunset and sunrise,

mauve and coral and crimson and ochre.

I see the mellow glow of the idyllic ivory moon,

hanging just above the trees.

I hear the leaves of aspen trees rustle and spin

in an evening zephyr.

I see rain, shimmering and iridescent,

illuminated by sunlight that has broken through threadbare patches

in a quilt of silver clouds.

I hear the splash of gleaming trout,

leaping and sending ripples across delicate reflections.

I have breathed in the fragrance

of meadows that reach to horizons, filled with wildflowers.

I have heard countless songs, lyrical and mellifluous melodies that echo across vast valleys

and hills.

I have known life in countless forms in deep forests shaded with emerald

and in resplendent mountains.

I have known countless worlds of transcendent beauty.

But I wonder,

have they been forgotten?

Tammy Zhang Grade 7

Summit Middle

Worlds

Weavers at their looms spinning threads into cities Blacksmiths at their anvils striking metals into wars Children in their rooms turning shadows into monsters Painters at their easels brushing pigments into moments And me at my desk writing words into worlds

Katie Wilson

Grade 7 Monarch K-8

Readers Choice Award

Movie I watch as the room goes dim and all I can see is that of the person next to me I am whisked off to another world of another dimension, planet, country or some place I have never even heard of The story starts all happy and joyful then conflict emerges and I cling to my seat as hard as if the character was my best friend I cringe at the bad guy and it is as if we were old school enemies the protagonist jumps out of no where and I watch as he beats the bad guy giving him what he deserves I see the same old story with a new twist every time I walk out of the theater thoroughly entertained Again

Sammie Lane

Grade 7 Summit Middle

Untitled

Vibrant leaves transform Detach and descend from trees

Gathered in piles

Jeremy Cashion Grade 7

Broomfield Heights Middle

Untitled

weakened leaves detach steadily spiral downward

whirlwind of colors

Michelle Lieng Grade 7

Broomfield Heights Middle

Yesterday

A text message killed Tomorrow. My brother’s name is Tomorrow. My name is Maybe Knott, and I’m alone now. I’m next. And my head’s empty. It hurts. But you don’t know. Let me show you.

*** Maybe so, Maybe not, Maybe Tomorrow too, Stop the singing, stop the song, and you’ll die soon.

My subconscious sings. I can’t talk while it is singing. I can’t talk at all. Only Tommy understands, but he can’t hear the song. I swing my feet in time to the omen of death.

I understand things fine, but I can’t say them. They say I have ADD and that’s why I can’t focus on things. But they don’t hear the music. It’s so loud all of the time. It hurts my head. I get lost in a river of thoughts. And words don’t work. They say I’m special and that’s why I didn't learn my multiplication tables when my twin did. They say special. I hear their minds screaming stupid, weird, insane. I’m not crazy. Not stupid. Weird, I’ll let you decide. I know the first five hundred digits of pi. I can draw a cityscape from memory. But I can’t talk and it is always too hard to listen. Except with music. The melodies calm my chaotic mind. Sometimes the music stops the song.

I feel when they think. The anger hurts my head. The sad makes me want to explode. The happy, it’s just there. I know what they’re thinking when they think it. Sometimes the thoughts are so, so loud: I just did that! That was amazing! Sometimes they are so soft: Save me. Help me. Please. Sometimes, with the grown-ups, I don’t understand what’s floating in their heads.

Math teachers are impossible to understand.

I sit at my desk, legs still swinging. I hum along. My head explodes.

I collapse. Tommy. Tomorrow. He’s gone. I've always had his head in mine. Why does it hurt? Why is it empty? Where’s Tommy? What’s happened to him? He left me. Nobody’s ever left my mind without me willing it. He must be far away. But he was walking to school. My head. Oh, My head. Where is he? Why did he leave my mind? It’s so empty. I can’t hear him.

Not even an echo.

They come in. The people. The ones who have their heads so full and they try to force more into my head. Make me speak. But they look strange, like it’s their faces screaming the pity. Not their minds. They tell me that we have to go. The hospital. There’s been an accident, they say. Tomorrow got hit by a car. Dead. The driver was texting. Distracted.

Distracted. I can’t hear his thoughts. Without the constant chaos in my head, I can’t focus. I can’t understand. They ask if I’m okay. Okay? Is that what they’re asking me? But it’s empty. My head. My mind. What if Tommy is just lost? I have to go find him. He’s not at the hospital. Where is he?

What’s different? I’m not okay. He’s gone. Why is it so quiet? The music left me too. I’m alone inside my head. Alone.

“No. I am not Okay. I am Maybe.”

Katie Wilson Grade 7

Monarch K-8

1 Million People

I tried- imagining being the daisy in a yard of daisies I laughed your laugh the best I could I walked your walk the best I could I looked your look the best I could But I could only be the daisy in a greenhouse of flowers.

Jasmine Li Grade 7

Summit Middle

Entropy

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. That is the sound of the constant drip that

inhabits this small cell block I call home. The drops always fall at a steady rate. They fall in perfect order, to a beat I can’t hear. That drip, the beat it dances to, represents order. I never really liked order. It’s not that I’m against order. Order just isn’t interesting. Chaos is much more entertaining in my opinion.

Chaos really isn’t the right word though. It carries such a negative connotation. Entropy is better. You know, that word scientists always throw around. Entropy. It’s not good or bad. Just interesting.

I hear the whispers about me. I can even hear them whispering across the jail. I hear them now. And I know what word they always stick after my name. Insane. Insanity.

Maybe I am insane. Maybe I’m not. I’m open to different opinions. If you ask me, I’m not crazy. I just think that I’ve become one with the entropy. I don’t have a case of insanity. I have a case of entropy. I’m not insane. I’m entropic.

I remember how I came to be entropic. I remember it well. Darkness spotted by rectangles of light. And out of this darkness

appears another rectangle of light. Out of this light I emerge. I remember the dark wind clawing at my hair, the leaves spiraling around my feet, and the tears flowing down my face. I remember the honk of a horn as I ran across the street. I ran up the hill on the other side of the street, where a tall oak stood, and fell to my knees crying.

I remember the hospital room. It smelled of ammonia and cleanliness. I remember my mom taking my hand from her bed, just as something floated through the window. A grey mass of smoke. A chaotic mass of smoke, with lightning and thunder striking within it every second. Out of it extended a hand of smoke. Before I realized what was happening, the hand grabbed my mother by the collar and whisked her into the hospital hallway.

My dad tried to stop me, but I managed to get away from his grip and run into the hall. I saw it silently floating down the hall, my mother in hand. No one else seemed to notice it. Why did no one else see it? I ran after the smoke. It led me down the stairs, out the door, across the street, and up the hill. As it reached the hill with the oak on it, the smoke turned to me and out of its mass appeared a sickening grin. A disgusting, horrible grin. Then, still with my mother in its grip, the smoke jumped into the air and dissolved into the darkness.

I fell to the ground, tears streaming down my face. I smashed my fists into the dirt. The smoke had taken my mother.

Suddenly, another rectangle of light appeared before me. Yet this one seemed different than all the other rectangles and specs of light surrounding me. I stepped through.

Many describe the descent into insanity as a dark spiral. They are completely wrong. Even the phrase “descent into insanity” is wrong. Because it isn’t a descent. It’s an ascent to greater understanding.

As I stepped through, I appeared in another world. The first thing that struck me was all the color. I could see colors others couldn’t even imagine, let alone see. All of them bright, vibrant, and beautiful. I’ve named some of them. There’s Hrump, Seeth, and my favorite of them all Aeiou.

I appeared to be at the bottom of a glittering, glass stairwell. I took a step onto the first step. It felt almost like butter. I took another step and another. I was soon running up the stairs. It is true, the stairwell started as a spiral, but soon it was making shapes and going in directions I can’t even describe

And all along the way, the secrets of the universe, the truths of the world were revealed to me. It was amazing how something seemingly so simple like a universe, could be so complicated and have so many layers.

Finally, I reached the end of the stairwell. I stepped out and was back on that hilltop, staring into the dark night sky.

And now I’m here, in prison, contained within these stone walls. Stuck with the constant drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Joseph Whitney

Grade 8 Casey Middle

Cityscape

The wind sails through the sky, The city sleeps soundly under the light of the moon. The buildings stand tall against the wind, Rocking those inside into a long, awaited sleep, Like the crib of a baby being swayed by its loving mother. I stand like the buildings, Strong against the tendrils of wind that lash out to grab me With their cold, long fingers. The snow starts to fall, encasing the city in a blanket of white. From up here, the city glows. From up here, I feel like I can fly with the birds Whose wings flap with the beats of their hearts When they sail through the sky with the clouds. From up here, I am invincible. From up here, I am unstoppable. Unstoppable like the cars that fly by on the streets below, Setting the streets aflame with their light. From up here, the cityscape shines with the nighttime glow. Though the people may sleep soundly, the city awakens at night. The heavy thud of music drifts up to me from below. I take in the sweetness of sound. On spires high, lights flash with the beat of the music, Like the beating heart of a giant. Like the beats of the heart that will not die, For the love they hold is as powerful as the thundering army, As powerful as the giant, who awakens as the sun rises among the streets.

Jesse Shafroth


Ocean Spray

The waves eat away at the shore,

a sandy, gritty, breakfast.

The waves play with the children,

swinging them around in the water,

listening to their laughter,

a gentle humble host to anyone who needs shelter,

bird or fish or

human

But when the waves break

No matter how hard they try to stay together

they fade into the sand

until the next tide.

Robin Bahrami Grade 8

Summit Middle

Abstract

The ripe tomato Sits quietly and serenely on The painter’s board

Patiently it waits For the finishing stroke from The clean brush The young artist Settles once again to create A realistic touch

Yet he stops To consider one thought; Abstract An unexplored concept The brush continues To drip with ideas that Soak the paper Color is splashed It mingles with the water Creating tie dye

The tolerant tomato Is no longer visible for The splashed imagination That is spread across the page.

Cora Tenenbaum Grade 8

Casey Middle

Sewing Lesson

One

yellow,

cheap,

fabric square.

It has the color of

old,

mustard.

The wrinkly,

well-lived hand grabs the sharp sword.

With the other hand,

shakily,

threading the maroon thread.

The sword pierces the thin yellow skin leaving

bloody lines

creating a beautiful

river that resembles a flower.

This was 5 years ago.

Now you are gone.

But I still have the

yellow,

cheap,

fabric.

Nyree Christianian Grade 8

Summit Middle

Untitled

The morning dew glistened on the train tracks, as if awaiting a train to

rush through the gray morning. The sky was blotted out with a fog that sunlight

struggled to penetrate. A damp breeze rustled the trees through a large

circular clearing, with aspens dotting the border between the plains that

followed and the forest. Sparse patches of sunlight filtered through the thick

fog that drifted around the atmosphere. The sea, miles away, brought in cold

salty air from the East. Birds flew overhead, heading West, illustrating the fact

of coming winter. The cold air burned against my skin and my breath turned

into white steam, dissipating in the air; I fetched a bucket of water from the

well down the road. The smell of forthcoming snow heightened my senses. I

approached my small wood hut, with anticipation of fiery warmth to envelop

and extinguish the cold. A train horn honked in the distance, once, twice, and

then silence returned.

Ethan W. Taylor


High School

Fragility

The other girls might look like fragile dragonflies,

the hums of their vibrating phones

and glints of their iridescent fingernails

giving the impression that they could be crushed

with the paper coffee cups they carry.

But they are lionesses of lace

draped languidly over their desks,

spinning whirlpools of untold stories

and fragments of sunshine and stars

and circuits that go on and on and never end

and killers of other illuminated insects

which are only drying their wings. . .

Lillie Bahrami Grade 11

Boulder High Readers Choice Award

Hibiscus

Three words lie dormant in your throat like closed orange flowers, waiting to unfold like the dark, beautiful fingers hanging empty by your sides. I wish they would blossom from your empty lips, filling the air with sweet golden pollen, that your strong, empty hands would curl around mine, like small, open lilies, as gently as they would stroke guitar strings or caress piano keys. I wish that I could pluck those flowers from your throat, put them in a glass of water between us and let them ripen and unfold. I want to hear them free themselves from your vocal cords and see them grow towards the sun of my eyes, to feel their velvety petals stroke my ears and know the hibiscus aftertaste on the tip of your tongue. If only I could grow them myself, cultivate our midnight garden in the cool shade of your eyes, but the seeds lay abandoned in my barren throat, my mouth too dry to sustain them, the cowardly soil too afraid to let them grow. I am not brave enough to be a gardener, and so the words will never spill from your mouth pour from your lips grow from your heart or mine.

Lillie Bahrami Grade 11

Boulder High

Art Credits

Front Cover Cole Smith, Boulder High School

Back Cover Brenn Anderson-Gregson, Boulder High School

Frontispiece Sierra Furie, Boulder High School

Elementary

Audi-Cats Liam Ouellette


Horse Jasmine Lee


Bee Beck Mitchell

Columbine Elementary

Dew on Grass Ava Murray-Swank

Superior Elementary

Portrait Grace Hurst

Flatirons Elementary

Critter Laney Hansell


Bird Laney Hansell


Spring Fun Laney Hansell


Slifer the Samvat Dangol

Sky Dragon Eisenhower Elementary

Sea Rescue Miguel Arellano Lopez


Tiger Spencer Mickelberry

Douglass Elementary

Bird of Prey Miranda Dawson

Foothill Elementary

Dandelion Ava Murray Swank

Superior Elementary

Anime Sara Whiteaker

Lafayette Elementary

Monkey Avanti Gautam


Cheetah Samvat Dangol


Raptor Spencer Mickelberry

Douglass Elementary

Middle School

Hanging Out Corinne Otterness

Angevine Middle

Ambition Germene Tan

Platt Middle

Peace Lily Maya Walton

Angevine Middle

High School

Out Tayler Heath

Boulder High

End Piece Yosha Gautam


2015 bvsd literary magazine, passage

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