Cynical
I have been like this ever since Kindergarten
I remember Ms. Honey
She was made out of daisies and sugar
The epitome of
Majestic unicorns galloping under a sparkling rainbow
Or what not
She spoke softly, sweetly
To a plump, sensitive boy
And I listened silently
Under the sounds peanut butter and finger painting
Don’t worry, Bruno
I think you are a bright kid
His muddy brown eyes were damp and sticky
Staring down at his fields of crooked letters
And chaos of number
She spoke once more
In fact, I’m sure you’ll be the President of the United States
White lies that stung like snow
Her words have deeply penetrated
Into his naïve mind
At that moment
Gaudy teal feathers that lashed out in every direction
He was the most flamboyant peacock
My laugh pulled me under the surface of
Insincerity
What is so funny, Thomas?
An innocent shrug
But green eyes framed with glasses
Pinned on to me
Oh, I’m not sure.
Not sure about what?
Well, Ms. Honey, I just don’t think that he will ever be President.
The inevitable gushed out
I think you’re just saying that to Bruno
So he’ll be happy and his parents might like you
Money
I felt his feathers liquefy into a miserable
Pool of gray
And heard the hostile, yellow and black
Buzzing from Ms. Honey
Listen now child, it’s okay that you’re ignorant
You have to understand that in this world
Everything is possible
I exploded into laughter
If anything was possible
Why is Mama gone?
Confessions
Every morning I
Walk a long, narrow hallway to Dr. Hickey’s office
Taking every moment
A breath, a step
I inhale the scent of
Cold turkey and nervous sweat
The smells unfold the truths of this rehab
This is a place
Located on the gloomy side of the city
Where
Sinners are lost
Within a dark needle
Smoked and smoked ‘till they were Ravens
Hoping that their black, feathery lungs
Would fly them away
Dr. Hickey a giant net
Captures them in his grasp
Before they are lost in the above
Dr. Hickey is nothing but a shadow
Who looks at life through a tinted window glass
Appreciating the specks of sunlight
That illuminates a world that is otherwise
Blank
I live in that world
I am unsure, stupid
Incompetent with self forgiveness
My past haunts me with vivid scenes
Painted in blacks and whites
If only Dr. Hickey could see the light within me
I expose the first half of my story
Mama died as a knife
Fourteen years ago
On a night when the ice froze so thickly
Salmon and trout
Were trapped in its frigid chains
She burned and coughed
As the parasites gnawed through her lungs
Pneumonia
I held her hand
Damp from cold sweat and fear
Mama
I whispered
Will you be fine?
I gripped onto her hand tightly
Our fingers locked
Like a beautiful woven promise
She looked at me for the very last time
With tears dragged back
By heavy eyelids
Don’t cry, Mama
She left a permanent scar on me
Stabbed me mercilessly
And although she died on that night
She kept her promise
Thank you, Mama
For being okay
It has been three short years with you
But I know you’ll guide me
For the very rest
With every tear that I’ve shed
The Lifestyle
Just me and Juliet
We are part of the fourteen percent
Running away to a teenage paradise
She is my sweet taste of presence
Her cold hands rested on my feverish forehead
I wake up on her dusty denim lap
Running long strokes down her blond hair
We enjoy every moment together
Through stolen bags of pretzels
And fast feet shuffling through large crowds
Brushing through every pocket and purse
For loose change and crisp bills
And then tossing every penny and every
Rusty ring on our finger
To feed our dirty habits
That litter all over our minds
We do this, regularly
Only because we love each other
Daze
Did you know the word heroin is derived from hero?
In our room, we would satisfy this monster
It begs us
Taunts us
Hazy pupils and popped veins
The slow slide of a metallic sting
Followed by the fast stream of blood cruising down
Icy pale skin and scar tissue
One Mississippi
Two Mississippi
Start
Its fantasy kicks into gear
I carry a breathtaking, brass sword
That gleams so brilliant in the night
The mere sight of it bestows fear
Within the hideous monsters and vile beast
I fight them all off
With nimble slashes of my sword
And dexterous decapitations
Moments pass
In this precious trance
Until consciousness grabs me by the shoulders
Shaking me violently
Until saliva wells up
It tells me the reality I dread to hear
I just want to protect Juliet
Such is life
Finally
Juliet! Juliet!
Where are you?!
Tell me that you’re safe
Whisper it through the echoes of the city
Make a voodoo doll and stab me with your pins
Pray to Him and tell him to send down an angel
Just give me a sign that you’re alive
The rainy night doesn’t assure me
I could feel the eerie aura
The guiding voices and strangers lead me
To a small, worn-down motel
The letter L
On the bright red sign
Flickers and dies with every second
Room 323
I hold your hand
It feels just as icy cold as that night when you rested your palms
On my feverish face
I stare deep into your eyes
The same baby blue pupils
This time they seem more like plastic
Smooth like marbles
I untie the knot from around your neck
And prop you on a chair
I gently place my head on your familiar lap
Once again, for the very last time
Mama, take care of my sweet Juliet
Sophia Wang
Age 13, Grade 8
NYC Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies
Silver Key
Great voice!