A story to tell and A secret to hide With a man full of sorrow, Truly A smile that was needed to barrow Like a passing storm with a bull for the mind. He whimpers, as he realizes his time Once he hangs, a sad song sings for the blind It must be admitted…
Author: Review Advisor
Time Passes by Kylie Krise
Time passes when we are young Slowly every day Days seem to take forever The clock never stops. Time passes when we are young Waiting for kindergarten Finally the day is here The clock never stops Time passes when we are young Then middle school Next is graduation day The clock never stops. Time passes…
The Giraffes are all Gone by Kylie Krise
It’s time to clean out her room Starting a new chapter Childhood memories dusted off The giraffes are all gone. Sorting between what stays and what goes Thinking about next week They used to keep her company The giraffes are all gone. Packing what will be taken College, her childhood dream Nightmares woke her up…
Equation of a Rainbow by David Sordi
Red + Black + Brown + White + Yellow =========== Humanity Biography: In January 2022, I moved here from New Hampshire to join the Aims Industrial Technologies and Oil & Gas programs. My career has been spent in industry and engineering, in which my creative side was not always of particular importance. Writing poetry…
Alone in Belief by David Sordi
Standing Alone in heart Solitary in spirit Turmoil Tear stained cheeks A leg bends slowly Knee to ground Prayers offered Peace Hope and understanding Deliverance The hush breaks Hell is unleashed Devil Deluge of hatred Rivers of vitriol A shot rings out A heart pierced Life torn asunder Blood sears soil Anonymous Fatal Spirit ebbs…
Empty by Marian Hesse
I am letting all the colors out They’re cluttering up my mind Biography: Marian Hesse is a professional musician actively involved in writing and photography. Marian began taking classes at Aims when it was only a few small cowering in the shadow of the water tower in the 1970’s. The classes covered liberal arts…
Dad by Marian Hesse
Drifting through the space like a scent I can’t quite recall Intense and heavy like a weight on my mind Often it is visible, and I can trace the source You with the cigar enjoying your life. Biography: Marian Hesse is a professional musician actively involved in writing and photography. Marian began taking classes…
The Last Time by Marian Hesse
The last time we walked Walking on the street through the hot Arizona neighborhood You stopped to pull a weed in someone else’s yard, a plant out of place where it didn’t belong The day you ran away, and strangers found you, thirsty and frail, on the busy road We…
Lost and Found by Marian Hesse
My memories are locked away somewhere Maybe in a box or a chest Somewhere safe. So hidden even I can’t find them You need to find them for me so I can forget them. Biography: Marian Hesse is a professional musician actively involved in writing and photography. Marian began taking classes at Aims when it…
Mrs. Claws by Marian Hesse
The fog rolls into a frog That my sister bought for me To care for the cat That hides under the bed Mrs. Claws Biography: Marian Hesse is a professional musician actively involved in writing and photography. Marian began taking classes at Aims when it was only a few small…
Life by Marian Hesse
SHARP corners Now filled with dust FRAGMENTS of AWARENESS Keep or toss Biography: Marian Hesse is a professional musician actively involved in writing and photography. Marian began taking classes at Aims when it was only a few small cowering in the shadow of the water tower in the 1970’s. The classes covered liberal…
Echo by Marian Hesse
There was a distant sound like music, Too ethereal to be A hint of subtle tone, to break the monotony As the sound faded along with the wind, Biography: Marian Hesse is a professional musician actively involved in writing and photography. Marian began taking classes at Aims when it was only a few small…
Life by Brandon Molina (2nd Place Winner)
Expectations… Created by… Society A checklist of value Measuring… You and me We wake up every day With a job to do Suppress your emotions Don’t let them break through Have all the answers You’re the one they look to Ignoring our emotions… Has become nothing new I am society Who’s rules dictate If you…
Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá by Martin Rios Banuelos (1st Place Winner)
It was a Sunday afternoon, and my parents were determined They packed their belongings and got my siblings ready Today was the day, their lives would change forever, knock, knock, knock The Coyote¹ was here “Is everyone ready”? Along the way they were encountered by The Cartel. “WE DEMAND ALL YOUR POSSESSIONS” … “What Possessions”?…
Change for the Better by Dylan Sargent (3rd Place Winner)
We must grow and improve, make positive change. We must learn from the past to broaden our range. Some of us are so set in our ways, open your ears and listen for a change. We can learn a lot from each other, a philosophy which shouldn’t be strange. By sharing our perspective and point…
Archived: The Devil Went Down to Albuquerque by Zoe Coats
The Devil went down to Albuquerque God knows why He went to the place Where dreams go to die He wore a hooded cloak To bask in his own tenebrosity He took some anger management To fix his animosity The road was long And the cucumber green In Albuquerque he found A bloody scene Most…
Archived: Ichorous Hamartia by Eliza Bratt
Who taught Icarus to run from home? To run to golden arms of unsettling perfection? To hold tight to something so beyond reach it would be his undoing? Did he know? That each second spent would slowly steal the color from his hair? That each kiss would leave a darkened sun-mark on his sand-pale skin?…
Archived: Chasing the Requiem by Erica Hansen
Disguised in animosity and briskly walking She boarded the ship The sea gently rocking She could smell adventure in the salty ocean air The constable eyed her strangely As she chewed on her hair She tried to control her breathing Which would have been easier if she hadn’t been grieving The entanglement, still fresh in…
Archived: The Space Between by Zoe Coats
Inhale. I could wax poetic About how time flies I’d write you a poem Stuffed with decadent lies Doubtless it would rhyme And mimic Dr. Seuss It would sound like a song And taste like an excuse But what would be the point? These words are a seeping syrup That varnishes each limb They…
Archived: Burning Cloth by Landon Shuey
A napkin? Or was it another word, probably lost to time Yet another piece of erased history, soon before its prime A candle blown out by the sleight of hand An ashen cloth carries itself across the land The spider caws, the crow weaves Soon to be whispered slowly upon unbroken dead leaves The candle…
Archived: Dew Drops on a Misty Morning by Eliza Bratt
Biography: I’ve always been inspired by the world around me: by the beauty in a simple sunset, the power in a rainstorm, the ethereal wonder in a perfect view. I aim to capture the beauty of the world in the few ways I know how. I’m inspired by the wonderful people around me and…
Archived: Misty Mountain by Hannah Tofflemoyer
Biography: My artwork takes a critical look at the beauty and wonder of the world that many of us don’t get to see. As a future photojournalist, I am constantly looking for different ways to document the world around me. I take photographs that call attention to moments in time that are often overlooked….
Archived: Psychedelic Sensibility by Alexis Winnett
Biography: When I think of creating art, I think of creating something that is unique and not of this world. When I was younger, I used art, craft, and creativity to create a world that only I knew the ins and outs of. Different characters, worlds, and creations helped me through the difficult times,…
Archived: Nameless by Zoe Coats
Her fingers were cold as frost-bitten glass. They twitched nervously in her lap, which was absurd because she had nothing to be nervous about. The doctor ushered her toward a chair, “Ms. Oswald, you might want to sit down for this.” She arched an eyebrow, “Just spit it out, young man. I don’t need to…
Archived: Little Red: Rider of the Hood by Zoe Coats
They called her ‘Little Red: Rider of the Hood.’ She was the leader of the Riders, the most fearsome gang in Cantum City. No one really knew what she looked like, but everyone said she wore a red cloak to hide her badly scarred face. No one entered or left the Hood without Little Red…
Archived: String by Bernadette Ledbetter
The man on the moon Gave us something to do. With a string and a ring We went to find Ping For his future wife was calling. With the strings attached We pulled them together Waiting to see what would happen. When they saw one another They embraced and they sang For they were always…
Archived: Summer by Bernadette Ledbetter
Outside was so bright and sunny Golden rays dripping like honey Birds flew high in the sky Childish fingers clinging to the memories He grinned from ear to ear, “Summer is so warm and yummy.”
Archived: Vylona by Elizabeth Richards
She smelled like herbs and sunlight. Like failed attempts at gardening and healing salves. She sounded like lullabies and the forest. Like warnings and black bears. She looked like impulsive decisions and brash words. Like soft spoken, begrudging apologies and life-risking loyalty. She felt like warm hugs and carefully bandaged wounds. Like anger veiled by…
Archived: Sweet Tooth, or Stomach Ache by Lillie Irene Hernandez
Your lips are burnt sugar, glazed with vanilla the texture of whipped syrup. Your cheeks are like pieces of silk draped over a crooked wireframe. Your eyes are like pools of stolen moonlight, only they hide rigid daggers beneath them. Your tongue is contracted to a script, only so effortlessly written that my heart dances…
Archived: The Tailor Patched by Zoe Coats
A woman of rhyme without reason Was Miss Melanie Bleu She wore their scorn well— The woman who was taboo. He’d left her at the altar With naught but a festering feast; To another who stays gold His heart was only leased. To the tailor she went a-calling She’d dress fit for a queen Her…
Archived: Paint Me Back to Life by Eliza Bratt
She’s different now. I used to see her in chaos The bustle of people on the street The laugh of a child in the theater The bark of a dog in a winter park The hum of a car outside my window. Now I find her in silence In every frostbitten morning In every sunrise…
Archived: To-Do List by Elizabeth Dorst
It’s nice when I can count the worries on my hand I look at my list (my digits) and I know where I stand Then I can start to check them off one by one, Using a knife I cut my worries from my hand (very fun) I’m left with a beautiful perfect red stump,…
Archived: Cry, O Young One by Elizabeth Dorst
Sweet sap fills the air he sees, Through the thick mist and trees, He sees the bear-man, strong and tall, The little tenderfoot drools, He wants it all. But alas, his small feet are weak, He can’t express his love, His spirit is meek, He runs away when the bear-man is near, From shyness and…
Archived: Letter from an Ex-Gifted Kid by Elizabeth Richards
Please stop calling me smart. I don’t like it, and it’s not a compliment. Every time those words leave your mouth, I want to peel my skin off, Open up my skull and show you What those words have done to me. The scars on my self-love, The minuscule paperweight I call my self-worth, (The…