I am in love with art,

With the way people create their own worlds,

Tell their own stories,

Decorate a blank space,

Make something beautiful out of nothing.

I am in love with art

And with people.

Different personalities,

Values, and passions,

But each one is special.

Soft moments of tender care,

Eyes full of fire,

Smiles of pure joy.

I am in love with the world

And with art and with life.

I am in love with blue skies and sunsets,

With wind and warm hugs.

I am in love with love.

I love with such intensity

It all becomes a part of me,

Sewn into my patchwork heart,

Invading every fiber of my being

And driving out the dark.


I am a bird

In a cage

Locked away,

My yellow feathers

Seen by none.

I’m all alone,

The only one.

The walls are of conformity.

I can no longer fly free.

Every day,

They try to dye my feathers gray.

They tell me I should hide,

Ignore the light inside.

This cage is small and strong.

It tries to keep me down,

But I won’t ever fall;

My wings won’t brush the ground.

They’ll try to take my heart,

To bring me to the dark,

But I will always fight

And struggle for the light.

I’ll find the one 

To let me out.

I can’t do this on my own,

But I won’t always be alone.

I know there’s someone out there

To help a bird like me,

But until I can find them,

I’ll stay here,

Caged

But free.


Be strong for someone else.

Be the rock

When they need help.

I listen to my brother’s worries

And let him ramble to me daily.

I talk to my Dad when he feels down.

When my sister’s hurting,

I’m always around.

My Mom, she shares her life with me;

Her joy and frustration,

Everything.

I help them when they’re down,

When they need to get the feelings out.

A distraction or an escape,

I can be there

Right away.

Maybe I don't do the most,

But I listen and I care,

And I am strong

By being there.


I am a pen

Picked up and set down

Again and again.

Some days I write

Lists of lies,

Others I’ll plan 

One day at a time.

I’ve been ignored before.

I’m not like the computer.

I guess Google Docs

Holds onto thoughts better,

But the computer isn’t there

In your pocket

For sweet thoughts out and about.

The best poems come from pens

And that’s without a doubt.


She doesn’t stand a chance,

Won’t order on her own,

Can’t speak up to a stranger.

She can’t sing. 

She can’t dance.

They tell her she should try.

“Never give up, fly high.”

She doesn’t stand a chance,

But she picks up the pen and writes,

Takes the brush and fights.

In front of the mirror, 

She tries to dance.

Maybe she’ll get a chance.

She’s off to the big city.

She’s buying her own coffee.

She says, “I like your dress,”

To someone she didn’t know.

She’s dancing with the others

Outside before the show.

She’s only in the crowd

And no one even knows,

But she’s here,

And she’s alive, 

And she has a chance.

They were there before me.

They taught me how to be,

How to walk and how to talk.

They even taught me how to breathe.

Mom has always been there,

Soft comfort in the night, 

She held me when I was a baby,

Still hugs me when I cry.

Dad is like my rock,

Someone I can depend on.

They say we’re too alike,

And that’s why we’d always fight,

But in the end we’d come back,

Because he understands

Like nobody else can.

They are the ones who taught me

Things like numbers and theology.

Because of them I write and paint

And believe in a world to be made.

Mom and I could walk together

All night and all day,

Talking all of our troubles away.

Dad and I could sit for hours

Trading tricks on our computers,

And sharing our strange humor.

There aren’t enough words to describe

The impact they have on my life,

But this one thing is sure:

If ever they were lost,

I’d miss them for forever

“Who are your friends?” they ask.

Really, it’s a short list.

Still, every name is special,

A bead upon the string,

The string around my wrist.


We never did wear bracelets.

Our necklaces got lost,

No symbols to be seen.

Life’s the only string we’ve got.

K has always been there,

My leader, everything she shares,

A silver bead, the centerpiece.


A stood up for me,

Strength and care she shows,

A maroon bead that glows.


A and E don’t go too deep,

Still, excited fun we seek,

A sunlight bead of happy.


S is one who writes like I do,

He inspires me to try things new,

A cerulean bead who encourages me.


L and M have come and gone;

In distant past, R and J slipped away.

Still, their colored beads remain.


I’ve got these beads upon my wrist,

And if I had only one wish,

I’d repay all of their friendship

And give them only happiness.



Sometimes, “I love you,”

Sounds like, “Don’t work too hard.”

Sometimes it sounds like,

“Let me help you.”

“Stay safe.”

“You look pretty today.”

“It’ll all be ok.”

“I like when you relax.”

“You’re my comfort.”

“Who else would I tell this to?”

“You’re such a big doof.”

“I love you,” sounds like

Wordless hugs,

Useless gifts,

Inside jokes,

Sugary snacks,

Warming hands,

Pats on the back.

“I love you,”

Is watching out for the other;

What makes them smile,

The needs they don’t voice.

No matter what,

Love is a choice.

It isn’t just the words we say,

But the things we do,

Every day.

Sometimes, “I love you,”

Sounds like something else.

An old yarn lies in the woods

At the base of a tree,

Colors faded over time,

Protecting that tree.


Nature ignores the thread.

As leaves crowd it out,

The yarn still lies there

And circles its base.


Alone, without a face,

The world tried to erase

This yarn of fate.

It still lies in the woods.

My mind is a shelf of drawers,

Each with different contents;

Brushes and pencils to paint my reality.

Some are set aside to bide their time,

Like words lost between the lines.

Some are open, spilling out

Every time I laugh and shout.

Some are neat.

Some are messy.

Every drawer is part of me.

Don’t you love the cool kids

Who follow the trends they actually like,

Who don’t give up without a fight?

Who are smart and not afraid to show it,

Talented and they know it?

Don’t you love the kids with passion,

Be it cooking, sports, or fashion?

And the kids who like to contemplate,

Who care about the world they make?

Don’t you love the kids who make us laugh,

Who give without asking back?

Who goof off with those closest to them,

Who screw up again and again?

Don’t you love the kids who try to be chill,

But you see a smile break through, still?

The chaotic kids, so full of life,

It’s love or hate, in the blink of an eye.

Don’t you love the kids, unafraid,

Who will gladly look like a fool,

Who are so unashamedly lame

That it makes them cool?

Pennsylvania,

Called Penn’s Woods,

Filled with trees,

Founded on freedom,

Built on belief.

There’s a bell that I’ve never seen,

A famous symbol of liberty.

In Philadelphia, historic walls

Of brotherly love for one and all.

This is the land of Hershey,

The timeless snack of unity.

The land of Great Lake Erie

And Oliver Hazard Perry.

These beaches tell of courage.

“Don’t give up the ship!” they said.

Pennsylvania is my job at the small grocery store,

And the elderly and disabled

Who come through the door

With those willing to help them out,

Who can always give more.

Pennsylvania is the church buried in the woods,

With only twenty members

Who go there every Sunday and Tuesday

To remember

How we’re saved.

Our Savior died on a tree

To take the sins of you and me.

We walk in faith,

We live in love,

Because of this great sacrifice

From heaven above.

This is the Pennsylvania I see

From the small town of Harborcreek.

These woods may be different for another,

But no matter what,

Pennsylvania is like no other.

The shot rings out.

Smoke fills the air.

Around the world,

The headlines blare

Blurred out words

And muffled noise.

Soldiers aren’t people

But only toys.

What is war?

A foreign drama

To those in prosperity. 

For politicians, a game

With life as a chess piece.

King me.

The road to honor,

Or rout to defeat.

What is war?


Bloody hands

Clinging to hope.

Desperate hearts.

One place to go.

Words nobody ever heard.

The people’s needs have been ignored.

There’s always a way,

But nobody said there wouldn’t be pain.

What is war?


War is victory and defeat,

Homeless children in the street.

Hand that she won’t hold again,

Prints he can’t leave in the sand. 

Ruined lives and broken times.

War is where the heroes die.

What is war?


Courage and honor,

A cause to believe in.

To a broken problem,

A broken solution.

Those fighting the fight.

The dark before the light.

This is war.

What if I don't want to be an artist? 

I'm not giving up,

Not on the real dream,

But this is the reality.

Why do you act like I'm giving up?

I want to make art for me

And really touch

Whoever's in reach.

Why is nobody ok with that?

Am I really giving up?

Take the pieces of my puzzle,

Throw them in the air,

But hold on

To what's still there.

I want to create.

I want to inspire,

To make someone's eyes

Rise a little higher.

I want to be me

And help you to be you.

I want to be free

And free others, too.

It's not about likes,

I just want to fly.

Hold onto that dream

And I'll be just fine.

I am the night

I am warm lights

Hidden in the dark

I am quiet breath

Beating of my heart

I am pens on paper

Hands in hair

Wild mind, but still I'm there

I am the silent pause

When I turn out the light

I am the navy peace

Found at this time of night

I am purring cats, pajama pants

And music in my headphones

I am safe here 

And I am not alone

God is here beside me

Hold my hand, Lord

You are my future hope

Singing me to sleep

Before I reach

Your planned tomorrow


I want to stay up all night.

I want to write until my fingers bleed,

Painting with my blood,

And every part of me.

I want to know what it feels like to work hard,

Keep moving through and past the dark.

I want to go until my body breaks,

Destroy myself for something great.

Sleeping early is a sign of weakness.

I’m not good enough

If I don’t work myself sick,

But there’s still a me-sized dent in my bed,

Taunting me as my resolves reach their end. 

I hate myself.

I don’t want to be anyone else,

But I wish I could escape me,

Stop being this lazy.

I used to say anything was possible,

But there’s a lot I can’t do, 

Always thought I was motivated.

I guess that’s not true.

I’m a loser and I didn’t even know it.

I look in the mirror and hate that me,

But is she really who You see?

You see Your creation,

Tired and broken

But healed by salvation,

Worthy by Your hand,

Though on her own she can’t stand,

A girl doing what she can do,

A girl ready to live for You.

She fails again every day,

But You pick her up,

Just the same.

Tired, weary, and put to the test,

It’s only in You

That she can find rest.

I'm caught in the vortex

Of my own mind

Helpless frustration

All of the time


Everything I like is wrong

Not because it's bad

But just because 

It never stops


I talk too much

They hate everything I say

And it hurts because I know 

I know that I'm a pain

I'm too shy

I don't want to be afraid

But still meek anxiety

Drives me insane


I want to make everyone happy

Be everything for them

But I just keep on failing

Again and again and again


I got sucked down the vortex

Vortex of a teenage mind

In this rolling, racing vortex

Questions are all I can ever find


This crazy vortex

Feels like a roller coaster

I'll fight through what comes next

This isn't over


In this cold and lonely vortex

I'll never be alone

God is here beside me

Guiding me back home


A gentle breeze in my mind

The softest hand holds my heart

My life is in His grip

He's held me from the start 


I'm caught in the vortex

Vortex of my racing mind

In this colorful vortex

Everything will turn out fine

We’re two of a kind, you and I,

Living in both the day and the night.

We each have two modes:

Quiet and loud.

We feel so much more

Then the rest of the crowd.

Our emotions are on a different level.

They’ll never understand.

We value little things in life,

Sweet flowers in our hand.

We want to be a light,

Do all that we can do.

Warm, gentle, and caring,

Yes, that’s me and you.

We’re both so active in spirit,

We just have to let it out,

Try all different things,

Be creative now.

We are the old souls

In our deepest contemplations,

And the most youthful children

In our wonder and our actions.

We are love and light,

Soft, calm comfort,

Blazing fire of compassion, 

Vibrant hues of life.

We are contradictions,

Complex mazes of the mind.

Yes, that’s us,

We’re two of a kind.


We are the kids that never grew up

Another year

So much to fear

Resolutions and goals

Guess we were the fools

Diets stop within the week

Giving up on what we seek

Determined for a single day

Until it simply falls away

A new year

New failure

What we want to change

Always makes a point to stay

What we need to stay

Is bound someday to change

Time flows too fast

They'll fall away

They'll never last

Moving on without us

No one left to trust

When we're stuck here

Trapped by our fear

Running in circles alone

Trapped in this box we call home

Surrounded by the rolling racing tide

But we can't enjoy the ride

Right here we stay stuck

The kids who never grew up

They say we'll learn and grow 

How do they know

They mock all of the adults

Who act like kids

Who won't give their all

Don't know how to exist

How long before that's you or me

Just when will we be

The kids who never grew up

Still we keep going

In the box, our own current flowing

The perfect future

We haven't found

Dusty wings brush the ground

Pulling, hoping, running, falling

Rushing, rising, living, flying

Maybe we didn't grow up 

Maybe we're still stuck

In our quirky reality

But we can still be

The kids who rose above

The kids who never gave up

I hate waking up to your neatly made bed beside mine.

I hate how you're motivated all of the time.

I live on mac'n'cheese while you eat healthy.

I get frustrated and you overflow with positivity.

You can dance choreographed steps around me.

I don't even know about half of your hobbies.

Unlike my mess, you're always aesthetic.

You're so good at everything, it makes me sick.

I'm shaped wrong, but you're perfectly pretty.

You're always cute, not awkward like me.

You're so much faster than me.

You know exactly what you want to be.

You're two steps ahead of me.

I'm two steps behind you.

You're running away, I'm losing hope.

Please wait for me, where did you go?

I'm lost alone.

I don't know what to do.

I just want to be like you.

The clouds came apart

Like a star split;

A cosmic explosion

Pulls the curtains back

And opens the world.

Rock hard cold is gone,

If only for a day.

A sweet trickle fills the sky,

Chasing the dark away.

A warm wind kisses my cheek,

Full of bittersweet memory.

When I found the melody of our summer

Amid cold and frigid winter.

A new dream unlocked inside of me,

An anticipation,

The culmination of

Everything I love,

A wonder for life.

I was ready to learn to fly

The day my wings began to grow,

Unfolding under winter snow,

Verses floating in my mind,

Magic I could almost find.

Puzzle pieces fall together

In this preview for warmer weather.

Life is not just memory,

But present joy,

The joy to breathe,

Every moment getting higher.

Passion burns in me like fire.

I still remember broken nights,

But on and on and on I’ll fight,

If only for the days like this,

When cold holds off,

When warm resists,

When highs and lows of adrenalin

Leave me in the place I’m in.



I don’t want to be a poet,

Writing out my dreams.

I don’t want to be an artist,

Putting images to fantasy.

I don’t want to be a blogger,

Typing out relationships.

I don’t want to be a dancer,

Moving wild and free.

I don’t want to be a singer,

Shouting out a story.

I don’t want to be

Crippled by a dream.

I want to be a daughter,

Making my parents proud.

I want to be a sister,

Giving my siblings smiles.

I want to be a friend,

Giggling through the night.

I want to be an encouragement,

Picking others up.

I want to be a Christian,

Living in the light.

I want to be a human,

Living vibrantly.

Creating magic

In the world around me.

I don’t want to miss a moment,

Focusing on only one thing.

I don’t want to be alone

In my world of beauty.

I want to write.

I want to draw.

I want to blog.

I want to dance.

I want to sing.

I want to have fun.

I want to smile.

I want to talk.

I want to laugh.

I want to help.

I won’t be

Crippled by a dream.

I will be a human.

I will write, draw, blog, dance, and sing.

I will have fun, smile, talk, laugh, and help.

I will live vibrantly.

What if artists

Never aged?

What if dreamers 

Stayed the same? 

Adults at birth,

Working

For our goals,

Running 

For our dreams.

Always young at heart 

Never growing old.

Ever rising passion, 

Simple wonder at the world.

Age 

Is just a number

Maybe 

We can choose it.

Old and wise,

Young and vibrant,

What if

We could have it all? 

What if

There were no limits?

I want to run away.

Why does ordinary have to be reality? 

I wish I were insane.

Logical thoughts hold me back.

Why do I have to be a good kid? 

It would be so much easier 

If I didn't care.

I wish I didn't care. 

I want to run away

But everything holds me back. 

I can only escape

Into the grotto of my mind 

But it's lonely up there.

I want to share it with you.

Should I share it?

Please be my escape.

Can we run away together

Right where we are?

Anxiety

I want to scream

Everything is impossible 

I want to be it all

But I'm nothing 

Just drowning 

Running out of time

Can't keep myself in line 

I need to hold on

But I'm falling apart

Maybe I should let go

But I don't know where to start

And it kills me to be like this

Writing another depressing poem

About everything and nothing

Seemingly real problems 

That don’t exist

But I need to get it out

Sometimes I want to run away

But the person I really need to escape is me

I could leave it all behind

To have a great adventure

But I'd still be by myself 

My thoughts wheeling faster 

I just want to go

But I know I won't

Why am I such a good kid 

Why do I have to care about others’ feelings

Why do I have to feel my own

I need an escape

I used to find it in my mind

But now everything is so tangled 

I’d get lost up there

I guess I'll just keep going

On this rocky path

I'll work until I am everything I want to be 

It might be the wrong mentality

But determination can't hurt

If I'm already broken

I'll keep pursuing my dreams 

And try to enjoy the journey

Even when it feels like the earth

Is swallowing me

I can't run away

But maybe I can fly to new heights

Someday

Am I mad? 

This is a story told fictionally

About an insane girl named me. 

Up is down, down is up.

Stop is go, go is stop. 

The story happens in my head.

Is it real? 

Am I real

Or am I dead?

My thoughts are one psychotic pool 

And me, the fool,

Writing them out so they look cool.

Am I thoughtful?

Am I deep,

Or is this just cheap,

A plastic cover 

Over my ravings and my rhymes

At the most confusingly normal of times.

A friend is someone 

To always be happy for you.

A friend is someone 

Who lets you see their messy room.

A friend is someone 

To be there forever.

A friend is someone 

Who dances like they don't care with you.

A friend is someone

To act like a kid with at any age.

A friend is someone

Who takes selfies and vacuums candy with you. 

A friend is someone

To get into messes with.

A friend is someone 

Who laughs with you.

A friend is someone

To share crazy memories with.

A friend is someone

Who plots with you. 

A friend is someone

To make you enjoy watching the stupid movie.

A friend is someone

Who lets you be weird. 

A friend is someone

To whip pillows at.

A friend is someone

Who can stay up all night with you. 

A friend is someone

To talk to.

A friend is someone 

Who makes you smile.

"I'll always love ponies.”

"No, you won't." 

“I’ll never like a boy band."

"Yes, you will."

"I won't be a teenager."

"But you can't choose that."

I was a vibrant little girl, 

Always with a smile

And a funny thing to say.

I practically lived in my imagination.

Dad called it Abbyland.

I was always singing along 

To the theme songs of my favorite cartoons 

Over and over

And playing ponies 

All day long

But then the cheesy songs faded out

And the ponies trotted away

Gradually,

So I didn't notice.

Now I'm fourteen years old,

Something I never thought would happen. 

Here I am.

I used to think I'd never change, 

That I couldn't if I tried.

Now I'm not so sure.

I'm a teenager.

How long before I dress like it? 

When will I start to hide myself in makeup?

How long before my dolls go untouched? When will video games rot my mind? 

Has it already started?

I like a boy band. 

This is the beginning of the end.

Maybe I should just give in

And follow the trends, 

But I don't want to be

Just any regular teen. 

I'm not giving up on me.

I guess this is normal. 

I'm just growing, 

But what if we can grow too far?

What if we can forget who we are? 

When do we outgrow our personality? 

Am I leaving myself behind me? 

What if I could just flip back a page

And be that little girl again?

Who is she?

Where is she?

I want her

To still be me.

I guess it's good

That life goes on

And bad times pass, 

But what's the price?

The good times fade off, too,

And we're left

To miss ourselves.

I'm thinking all this through,

My mind is one big mess,

When the sun smiles down on me,

Relieving all the stress.

I'm six years old again,

Reaching for the sky. 

Limits, they don't matter. 

I feel like I can fly.

Nothing has changed.

We don't change. 

We can't. 

What if we just expand? 

I've learned to try new things,

And that is good.

I don't need dolls or ponies to be me,

And that is good.

The present is forming around the past,

Like the rings of a tree

Coming in fast. 

The first is still there,

Close to the core.

Maybe it's just hiding

To make room for more.

Maybe if I let it happen 

And don't go to extreme or extreme,

It'll happen gracefully

And that tree

Will still be me.

Maybe I should just live for life 

And like what I like. 

I don’t usually go with the flow,

But I won't try or try not to grow. 

Maybe someday I'll buy ripped jeans 

And try a croptop,

But if I do,

I hope I'll smile in the mirror

And remember to remember

Every heartbeat that brought me there. 

Remember who I was, 

Who will still be

Who I am.

Remember to cherish every moment.

I'll learn a little maturity,

But I won't lose me.

I've always been here. 

Is it wrong to like good music?

Am I still me if I don't watch kids shows? 

The outside doesn't define me.

I know

I will always be 

That child

At heart.

You wake up

To the blue and purple haze

Of a dream. 

Sleep is heavy on your eyes.

Part of you is still in that world

Where everything is light and carefree. 

The rest of you is in reality,

Feeling heavy and exhausted.

You're disappointed

Because a dream is just that:

A dream.

You know it now.

What do you do?

You could roll over 

And try to go back to sleep,

Or you could rub your eyes,

Push away the mist,

And get up.

Slip your shoes on.

Say hello to the morning.

Greet the world.

Live in reality 

And bring your dream along. 

Take a step

Even just a small one,

And then take another 

To bring that dream 

Into reality.

Do you believe in magic? 

In worlds through wardrobe doors? 

Do you believe in wizards' schools? 

In good to evil wars?


I believe.

After all, what is logic to begin with? 

The fundamental way things are,

Plain and simple,

But what if there's another logic?

What if things are fixed differently for others?

What if some things aren’t fixed at all?

What if anything is possible?

That’s the only logic.


My heart believes in magic.

My head believes it, too,

But deep deep down, 

In both head and heart,

I know I'll never see it. 

The closet holds no world for me.

There's nothing between platforms nine and ten. 

I believe in magic,

But magic won't believe in me.


I have seen magic.

Oh, silly me!

I don't need the talking animals.

I can do without the spells.

I have seen magic—

The magic of a smile, 

The magic of transfiguring tears, 

And time’s own diamond vial.

I believe in fairy bells

That tinkle as we laugh, 

In the vigorous dance of life,

And the beat to which we tap

I believe in worlds of words,

Pages that invite you in.

I believe in color and in light,

Where magic can begin.

I believe in magic, 

The magic of my life.


I may never meet a unicorn

Or greet the mighty centaur,

But who’s to say

That they aren’t real?

Magic is real.

After all,

We're alive

And surrounded by magic

All the time.

Six pages.

I have six pages

Of scattered words,

Broken rhymes, 

Unhinged ideas of identity,

And fake confidence. 

"I know who I am,”

The poems struggle to say.

Sure, I know who I am. 

I'm not worried, 

Not about that,

But what about who I was,

Who I will be? 

If I can change so fast, 

Who am I, really? 

What does any of it mean?

Six pages 

Of trying to understand myself, 

Of brain battles,

Of tangling myself around.

I'm a spider 

Caught in my own web. 

What have I found?

Nothing.

I'm more confused than ever. 

I've only learned that I,

Whoever I am,

Am my own worst enemy.

I still have six pages.

Six pages

That I'm trying to unscramble,

Six pages

That I will figure out.

Six pages

Can't get the best of me.

Whoever I am,

I'm determined.

Six pages

Don't stand a chance.

It was the very beginning.

All was perfect, 

Like a beautiful Van Gough, 

Until the fall.

God gave His people a choice,

Good or evil,

Purity or defilement.

They chose to sin. 

Like black splotches

Blanketing the canvas, 

We are all tainted.

Anyone who has ever done wrong

Is an evil sinner. 

No matter how small the deed,

However many good things we’ve done, 

It doesn't matter.

You are an evil sinner.

I am an evil sinner.

Every person 

Ever to live,

All sinners

Except one.

Long ago, a Child was born

In a manger,

A humble birth for a king,

For the King,

The Son of God,

The Artist coming to restore His painting.

It was the second beginning.

That Child,

Christ,

Would become our Savior.

Justice says that

Sinners deserve to die.

Mercy says that

We're no longer sinners. 

Christ took our sin,

Forgave it,

And died to pay for it. 

All we have to do

Is trust

In Him

To be saved.

I will be saved.

You can be saved. 

Death came from sin,

So Christ defeated both.

His grave is empty.

Now He is in Heaven,

The unspoiled picture. 

I will meet Him there one day.

Will you?

When I'm having of a bad day,

I just put you on replay,

And soon I'm ok.

The music gets me inspired. 

I want to make worlds,

Just to go higher. 

Even if I'm tired,

I'm full of energy 

And so I'm ready

To go be me. 

I want to hear your song all night.

School starts going extra slow.

I spend twenty minutes on a question I know.

The music is the only thing on my mind.

It's all confusing;

I still feel fueled,

But so ill-timed.

School lasts all day long

And my night is burned on the song.

I have nothing to do with the ideas, you see,

I’ve run out of time to be me.

This is like a drug. 

It's like a medicine,

But I'm addicted.

It helps me, 

Heals me,

But too much only gets me hurt. 

Now I'm sick and burned.

"What did I do?"

I need to balance on this narrow tightrope. 

You inspire me to take the best of life, 

Make the best in life, 

So I just need to stop,

Focus,

Hit reset,

And full speed ahead. 

You're my fuel

As long as I'm careful

So you don't become my engine fire.

As long as I don’t start a fire,

You can only bring me higher.

It's a magical moment 

When you look in the mirror

And realize you're beautiful, 

Frizzy hair, acne, big nose, double chin, and all.

It's a magical moment

When you look in the mirror 

And let the inside color the outside.

It's a magical moment

When you look in the mirror 

And decide to use the same lens

That you'd use on anybody else

To really see yourself. 

It's a magical moment.

When you look in the mirror

And see your flaws

Without letting them define you.

It's a magical moment

When you look in the mirror

And love the person smiling back at you.

It's a magical moment

When you look in the mirror

And realize God knew what He was doing

When He put you together.

It's a magical moment

When you look in the mirror

And realize you don't need it anymore.

I'm exhausted. 

What are these emotions?

Where did they come from?

I feel so happy 

I want to cry,

But I'm all heavy and helpless.

I want to cry.

All I can do is live,

But why do I live so slowly?

I want to fly,

But I keep pulling myself down.

How do I get out of my way?

This is all nothing.

I'm making it up in my head

But it feels so real.

Why do I almost like it?

A hundred words I'm trying to say

Blare in my ears,

But I can feel the immense silence

Behind them.

Am I really saying anything?

I want to pour my heart out,

To write my every feeling,

But I don't know where to start 

Or where to go. 

Is this real?

I don't understand. 

I don't know.

But there's a pencil in my hand

And I'm holding on to it.

Holding on to my words, 

All of the colorful thoughts in my mind.

Holding on to each smile

That floats me through the day. 

Holding on.

I guess I'll start there.

Ugh. 

I want to scream

Or cry.

My mind is fuzzy. 

I want to sleep,

But dreams are better 

In the day.

Every morning

I think, ‘This is the day.

Today I'll do everything right.’

Every night

I feel heavy as a weight.

‘Sleep tonight,

I'll do tomorrow right,’

I always tell myself.

So the cycle goes.

Filled with painful ninety percents

On schoolwork

And too many saves on Pinterest.

In between.

My words mean nothing.

I say what I'll do

To start or end the circular day,

But I never do it.

I say it to keep my wheels turning.

I don't want to stop moving. 

Even if I ride in the same old ruts 

Over and over again,

At least I'm moving.

The circle grows smaller

Little by little.

I'm growing dizzy. 

I spiral smaller and smaller

And soon I'll have nowhere to go.

Dizzy, so dizzy.

I need to get out. 

I need to break free.

These ruts, 

Why do they hold me?

I'm done

Running in circles.

There are infinite tomorrows,

More blank pages,

New roads to explore.

A whole future for me to write.

I need to start somewhere.

I'll go for today

Before today is yesterday.

It might be scary,

But I'm so dizzy there are stars in my eyes,

So I don't care. 

I'm going for it.

The rut is broken.

No more, 'This or that will be the time.’

This

Is

The time.

Now my head is clear.

Type A,

Are you serious?

Type B, 

I can't stand this.

Type C, 

I mean it, please stop. 

Type D,

You can't just put me in a box.

What do you think we are? 

Are humans so simple

That you can sort us out

Like Uno cards?

Well, skip my turn.

Count me out.

I'm a wildcard.

Are we all red, blue, green, or yellow?

What about teal, vermillion, lilac, magenta? 

I don't want to be a normal color.

What is normal?

No two people are exactly alike, 

So nobody is normal.

We're all a different shade,

But even that is too limited.

I told you, I'm a wildcard.

You can keep lying if you want.

I don't mind if you're ok with

"Type normal",

But I think I'll go with

Type me.

I'm sunshine and flowers

On any day. 

I'll always be happy

Whatever you say. 

I look for the rainbows 

And make friends with the stars. 

I'll dance in a deluge.

When I slip, I won’t get scars.

I'm not oblivious.

Fake? Not me.

I know the state of the world,

But I'm really happy.

Why?

I know this: 

Flowers bloom,

The sun rises,

And children laugh.

For every hurtful word

There's an encouraging hug. 

For every wound

There’s a bandage hidden somewhere.

I know about the darkness,

But I live in the light.

That's why I smile like this.

What's the secret to success?

Please tell me if you know.

I've seen inspiration quotes

And all the anecdotes

Of lame to fame,

How they became

Larger than the stars.

How did they go so far?

Was it by being who they are?

They say it starts with a dream.

Well, we've all got one of those, 

Big or small, 

Tiny or tall.

So what do we do with that dream? 

It's more simple than it may seem.

Start the ride, 

Put one foot before the other

And hold on tight.

They say a very small percent makes it.

A high percent knows that

And doesn't try.

A high percent gives up,

Because they're lazy

Or scared

Or "too busy."

You're never too busy to dream

Never too busy to try.

A high percent gets discouraged,

But you don’t have to.

Just enjoy the journey

So you won’t lose the destination.

It might sound like a hard climb,

But all you need to do

Is focus on today.

Get up right now.

Do it.

Take a step.

You really can’t know

Unless you try.

Maybe I'm cool.

Maybe I'm fine,

But when I'm with you.

I lose my mind.

I might be insane,

But why use my brain?

It's fun to be stupid.

We don't break the rules,

We don't cross the lines,

But we might break our bones,

And the lines do get bent.

We're teenage girls

Expanding our worlds

And this is the best time.

To be alive.

I'm normally calm.

Compared to other kids I'm an angel, 

But I'm still stupid 

And smart about it.

I am careful

That as far as I can see,

The only person I could hurt is me,

So let's go a little crazy 

And laugh until it hurts 

And then just be.

I know what my heart is like;

My heart mirrors the brightest sunflower

Turning upward

To face the sun,

To let the beauty define her

As it fills her up.

I am changed by the beauty around me.

Hello, here's my name,

But my friends call me Abby.

I live in a world

Completely my own.

My Dad used to call it Abbyland

I think it's my imagination.

I've always been a silly little girl 

Wearing poofy skirts and patterned pants, 

Doodling my heart out,

Scribbling down stories, 

Dressing up my dolls,

Dancing along to Disney theme songs,

And making my friends laugh. 

I'm a bit dramatic.

(Maybe more than a bit)

I can be serious when I want to,

I like some "boring" things, 

And I'm really good at school,

But it all just adds to the vibrant mesh of me,

Who I've always been

And who I'll always be. 

There's just one thing.

I'm 14 years old,

Something I never thought would happen. 

I used to say I'd never be a teenager.

Well, here I am. 

I'd say I'd never change,

But now I'm not so sure.

"I'll always like My Little Pony." 

"No you won't."

"I'll never like a boy band."

"Yes you will." 

They were right. 

I don't know what happened to my pony figures

But they're gone 

And I don't care like I want to. 

I can't believe it

But I'm a fan of BTS. 

I can't help but love their personality,

Their message,

Their music.

Is it wrong to love good music? 

Am I still me if I don't watch kid shows anymore? 

It all sounds so stupid,

But if that can change so fast,

What else will I gain and lose?

I'm a teenager.

How long before I dress like one? 

How long before my dolls go untouched? 

When will I start to hide myself in makeup? 

When will violent video games rot my mind? 

I don't want to grow up.

They make it sound all great on TV,

But it's a trap.

"Life goes on.”

Yes, it's great to learn and grow, 

To let the bad times pass, 

But what's the price? 

Am I losing myself? 

Am I leaving me behind?

When do we outgrow our personality?

How do I stop myself from doing it?

What if we grow too far? 

What if we forget who we are?

I've never been able to go with the flow, 

But I don't think I'll try or try not to grow. 

I think I'll just let the real me show, 

Whoever I am, wherever I go.

Maybe I'll just live for life

And like whatever I like.

Does growth have to mean change? 

I could just be expanding.

The present is forming around the past;

It's like the rings of a tree

Coming in fast.

The first is still in there,

Close to the core.

Maybe it's just hiding

To make room for more.

Maybe if I let it happen

And don't go to extreme or extreme,

It'll happen gracefully.

And that tree 

Will still be me.

I don't understand it all,

But here's what I know:

Right now I have a fuzzy sweater on, 

Right now the world outside is beautiful,

Right now I like my dolls,

Right now I'm jamming to a boy band, 

Right now there's a smile on my face,

Right now everything is ok,

And right now is a day I want to save.

No matter what the future brings, 

No matter how I grow,

This is now 

And I'll always have the memories. 

If I ever decide

To wear ripped jeans and crop tops, 

I hope I'll smile in the mirror 

And remember.

I'm still the same little girl

On the inside.

What if I told you I was a horrible person?

What if I said that you are, too? 

I’m a terrible sinner.

You are a terrible sinner.

Every person

Ever to live, 

All sinners, 

Except one.

Now you're trying to deny it.

You can't. 

Have you ever done wrong?

Then you're dirty.

I'm dirty.

The world is dirty.

Only one man was ever clean

And it wasn't Santa Clause.

Long ago in the city of Bethlehem

A child was born to a virgin

In a stable.

It was a humble birth for a king.

For The King,

The Son of God.

Merry Christmas.

That child, Jesus, was perfect and sinless.

He was the only human ever

Who didn't deserve capital punishment.

He grew up to die. 

He took the blame for our sins. 

And was crucified

To save us.

He even left the grave

To defeat death.

Merry Christmas! 

Now is the time to celebrate 

The birth of the greatest man ever to live. 

The birth of our Savior,

Who is the only way we can be good.

We only have to trust in Him

And be forgiven.

I don't know about you, but 

I think that's a much better gift

Than anything an imaginary man in a red suit 

Can deliver;

Salvation.

The soft hum of voices 

Sends me into daydreams.

Every note of the encouraging message

Makes my heart sing along. 

A friend's sparkling smile 

Prompts me to burst. 

Her funny texts

Are like candy in my mouth.

A book is a portal to another world

That I joyously bring back to my own.

Each character is so real,

It's like they're all my friends.

Swirls of color make someone's dreams

And I can't tear my eyes from the canvas.

The sheer beauty 

Takes my breath away.

Life is amazing

And incredibly inspiring.

I feel buoyant and beautiful

Taking it all in. 

I itch to be in action;

My fingers vibrate for the nearest pencil.

Ideas are being stirred.

I can feel it fizzing up inside of me. 

The yearning is too much 

When I see the world outside.

Every frosted branch,

All of the clear water,

It calls me.

I pour out all of my feelings.

With the brushes on my desk.

Intense inspiration flows from my fingertips

And a smile is always on my lips.

I dream and I create.

Maybe someday

I’ll inspire someone else

And the cycle will keep on rolling

And coloring the world. 

Art--

My brush floats across the canvas, 

Dashing to and fro. 

I let all my feeling out right there, 

Living colors 

Of joy. 

I don't need 

To be shy.

There's no reason

To be afraid. 

I can let myself go, 

Be crazy as I want,

Dramatic as ever.

No one will judge.

Mistakes are ok,

In fact, bound to happen.

It's all part of the process.

Art makes me feel free,

Transparent as my watercolors,

Graceful as the dove

Emerging from my brush. 

I can be

Whatever I want

To be!

I can capture all the beauty; 

Everything magical 

In the world around me,

All that I see 

With my eyes. 


Eyes--

They let me see the world outside.

I take it all in: 

Deep blue skies,

Blooming flowers,

Falling leaves,

And soft ripples in the water.

My eyes let me see

All the people around me

With their smiling faces,

Tender looks of love,

And every emotion.

I see their eyes, 

And then their personality.

Are they big and bright, 

Taking it all in 

With enthusiasm,

Or half closed,

Just waiting for slumber? 

What about the color? 

Is it clear and sure

Or dull and muddled?

Is there a mix of color-- 

A range as wide, 

As deep,

As confusing and utterly wonderful

As the personality

Of the eye's wearer?

Please, I invite you,

Dive into the shining pool.

Of mystery.

Now please don't take for granted 

This privilege that we have.

I urge you, take advantage 

Of your windows to the world.

Share with those 

In a world of darkness. 

I want to let them see 

Through my eyes 

With my words.


Words--

Feeling out on paper, 

Running across the screen, 

Or just hanging in the air. 

Feel how they twinkle and gleam! 

Like the laughter of the creek, 

They express our greatest joy. 

Like the moaning of the wind, 

They portray our every longing. 

Each feeling comes alive 

And is set free 

By the simply clicking syllables.

Stories come to light,

Offering comfort

Or confrontation

As we step into

A whole new world

And bring back a treasure

To beautify our own.

Oh, when the right words click!

I suppose the angels sing

At the flood of satisfaction,

The completed perfection

Of one heartfelt sonet.

When I write,

It makes me feel brave

To say what is true,

To really be me!

Oh, the relife

When a smile breaks out 

At the sound of my words!

Above it all, 

I love the fall 

Of the sounds 

In every place. 

It brings such a beauty

You just can’t erase.

Splash!

He hops into the pond.

The silk water ripples.

The pink flowers laugh

At the tickle of the waves.

They are beautiful and pleasant,

Yes, this is true-- 

And so very sweet, but oh so still. 

The frog is what jumps.

He hops for happiness.

His little jump of pure joy,

It affects the whole pond.

Soon all is up and active,

Laughing and singing,

All because of one tiny frog

And his beautiful little bounce.


If only I had wings,

I'd strain to reach

The top of the box;

The edge of the world, 

Where the stars are all stuck

To the dark, cold ceiling.

I'd chase all the fireflies

As high as they tease me from,

Just to feel their warm glow

In the palm of my hand

Before letting go.

I go out for a swing

On one warm summer night

And pump myself so high

I think I may start to fly! 

I breathe in the nighttime air,

Feel the wind

Kiss my cheek

And toss my hair,

And smile up at the sky 

To get lost in the stars.

At any moment this rope may snap,

And when it does,

Watch me sprout great wings, 

Large as my imagination, 

And fly away

To my home in the stars 

Where all is safe.


I'll bid goodbye to the ground,

Hello to the moon,

Such a jolly father he is. mother he is. 

I’ll greet my siblings, the stars, 

Sparkling and laughing with them. 

I’ll glimpse my mother, sun, 

Hard at work on the other side, 

And wave hello..


I will continue to swim

Through the loving atmosphere; 

Straining to reach the top,

Always just a few strokes away,

Never quite reaching it,

But still enjoying the journey,

Until I'll snap awake and realize:


I didn't travel to the sky,

I was already there.

Time--

It ripples and flows around me

Like a smooth Victorian gown.

It is studded with jewels

As the shimmering memories

Of the past.

It is hemmed a lace

Of hopes for the future.

It is based upon the silky form

Of the present

To hold it all together, 

To make it fit, 

And to give it use.


Time--

It is running

Like the wheel of a broken wagon.

It rolls away, 

Too quick to catch, 

And leaves me feeling stranded.

Stuck. 

Lost.


Time--

It is here, now, 

Firm as the ground below me, 

Beautiful as the sky above. 

What lovely ground! 

Such magnificent sky! 

And it's been here all along.

It's seen every memory. 

Each hope is planted here.

Time is but a single thing. 

The past, the future, 

They both make the present.

Past, 

Present, 

Future, 

They all make time.

I am now a new teen

And so I'm in between

Young and old, 

Old and new.

I'm stuck inside my chrysalis, 

Waiting to become a butterfly

But not really wanting to.

I miss being a caterpillar, 

When my days were all just fun.

 I’m just above the limit

Of my innocent MG books. 

And just a bit too scared

For the daunting YA ones.

Too big for my old, simple bike,

 Too short for my 10-speed.

Young enough still to love my dolls,

Old enough to be embarrassed about it. 

I can enter the contests for teens, 

But their writing all stands over mine. 

I'm eye level with their elbows, 

And their shoulders lock together,

Blocking out the sky for me. 

The days of those clean stanzas 

With ever-perfect rhyme, 

They are all gone.

My words are scrambled, 

But falling back together 

In a lovely loose verse. 

I will be a butterfly 

And spread my colorful wings

With an intensified joy, 

With more freedom than ever

To be me.

The drizzle turned to rain. 

The rain began to pour,

Cooling the humid air 

And creating countless opportunities.

We rush outside

And smell the fresh air. 

We run around

With no destination,

Simply splashing in laps

Of joy.

We dance in the rain,

Turning our faces to the sky, 

Happy 

To be alive.

Thunder chases us inside.

Two by two we go,

Slipping and laughing happily. 

It's the perfect time,

It seems to me, 

To dive into a different realm

By cracking open a novel.

And then the storm passes

And the sun shines again.

The smooth, full puddles

Are the mirrors where 

The beautiful sky checks her reflection 

And the good natured trees.

Inspect their burly curls. 

The creek now flows better than ever,

Like a stream of liquid life,

Carrying every every hope.

Every dream, 

All the smiles,

All the laughter, 

And everything else

In her sparkling current. 

The reeds and leaves crowd close.

Every lovely glimmer of water 

That falls upon their graceful forms

Is illuminated

In the sunshine.

What a wonderful day

The Lord has made!

A perfect time

To feel Christ's love.

Some think that rainy days

Symbolize terrible things,

But I find

So many blessings.

I entered through the magical archway,

Its light flowers beckoning with fanciful beauty.

The woods, they call me from afar 

With sharp, tingly scents of green

And sweet, clear scales of birdsong.

I am swallowed by the canopy of greenery

With the sun slanting through.

The dappled light is dancing

In the light and lovely breeze.

I long to uncover secrets,

To find enchanted kingdoms 

Just beyond that next hump.

Butterflies pass me light as air 

And it seems that all is possible. 

I strive to find the hidden paradise, 

Always just out of reach.

The cool water,

So thick and fresh,

Wraps around my ankles in a rush.

All is peaceful

Beneath the vibrant canopy

Of green leaves

As the smooth flow

Massages my legs.

Lazy droplets collect on my skin;

I don’t even bother to shake them away.

All I can hear

Is the soothing call

Of the creek,

My pencil on the paper,

And a bird’s chirps of joy

For this moment.

Anxiety is an ugly monster,

Causing problems whatever you do,

Eating away at your happiness,

Eating away

At you.


Anxiety scares sensible thinking away.

It scares the mind, also,

Into worrying.

As a frightened horse is difficult to ride,

So an anxious mind is hard to control.


But it can be stopped!

Though it may seem to be impossible,

God can do anything,

He is in control,

And He loves to help His children.


All we must do is think of

And be thankful for

God and His many blessings.

It takes time and effort, but

God will help defeat that monster in your mind.

Look into somebody's eyes.

What do you see? 

Pools of color and of dark, 

Sparkles of reflecting light,

Personality,

Beauty,

Feeling,

All shown in the eyes.


I look around at the trees and the sky.

I look around at the birds that can fly. 

Where did they come from? 

How can I see them? 

God created nature

And all the lovely things;

Smiling faces, 

Precious moments,

Life,

And the eyes to see it all.


Eyes are for inspiration,

To help imagination.

Oh, how awful

For those who cannot see.

Words are a vial

To capture what we see

And share our eyes

With the blind

And many more.

Are people good or evil? 

I don't know.

I just don't know.


Sometimes I'm on top of the world

And I feel too good to be true. 

Some days I can do no right

And think I’m just an evil mess.

Am I good or evil? 

What does it even mean?

I want to say we're all good. 

People show kindness to others. 

We create so much beauty

With our minds.

How could we not be good?

"And God looked at all He had made

And it was very good."

We are good,

Right?


But what about the evil?

I can't help but see it all around. 

Look at politics, 

And tell me all is good.

There are liars and thieves,

So we can't possibly be good! 

"No one is good. 

No, not one.”


I refuse to believe

That people are evil. 

I can't truthfully say 

That we are all good. 

What then? 

Is the world dark or light?

Black or white? 

I don't know which to choose. 

I don't know what to do.


Look at the chart of shades and tints.

What is between black and white? 

Each shade of gray 

Is a different person. 

White is good,

Black is evil,

And we are gray. 

Some good and some evil in each. 

We aren't good.

We aren't evil.

We're grey.

We have some of both.


Any evil defiles us,

But it doesn't have to define us.

Let the good in me

Be what counts.

You can't take away a deed,

Good can’t be erased,

But evil alone can be forgiven.

"I'll always love ponies.” 

"No you won't."

"I'll never like a boy band." 

"Yes you will."

"I'll never be a teenager.” 

"But you I can't help it

"I can and I will.”

But I can't help it.

I don't love pony's like I did.

I even like a boy band. 

What happened to me? 

What about dolls and poofy skirts?

How long before they go too? 

What about crop tops and violent movies? 

How long before I'm into that? 

Has it already started?

"Life goes on,” 

But what if I don't want it to?

What if I could just flip back a page

And be a little girl again? 

Who is she? 

Where is she? 

Just when I start to understand

Life gets crazy once again.

What if life didn't go on?

What if I could just hit pause?

Bad times pass,

Sure, that's great, 

But what about the good times?

I want to stay forever

In my little world of ponies,

But I can't.

Life goes on.

Bad times pass.

Good times stick around.

I'll always have the memories.

They go on and on with life

As I make more every day.

It was never about the ponies,

And liking good music was never a sin.

It's about being me.

I'm not defined by dolls or skirts.


If I ever like shorter shirts or video games, 

I'll still be me.

Nothing important can really change.

Life goes on. 

I grow.

But I still have the same smile. 

I always will. 

The only thing that's changed? 

I've learned to try new things.

We sit together, her and I,

Watching the movies 

That every small sister

Must see. 

It’s only for her. 

She needs this childish fun

Now. 

It’s only for her.

Barbie's musical glittery, overly-kind voice fills the room,

And the screen is flooded

With sparkling pink magic 

And the same live cartoon faces

Playing numerous characters. 

It’s only for her 

I have to remind myself.

Then I glance down

At my bubblegum pink nails. 

They are chipped, 

Though I just painted them.

I see my dress 

With the unicorn,

The sequins, and

The pink tulle skirt; 

The dress that makes my older sister

Roll her eyes, 

Create an expression

Of disgust and surprise,

And beg me to change. 

I will not change. 

I admit it. 

I don't want to grow up.

I’m a child at heart.

We all know I still play

With my dolls, 

Unashamedly fixing their hair 

With oh so much care 

And picking out the very cutest

Of their old-fashioned dresses. 

I don't have to fully grow up.

I can still be 

A child at heart. 

We all know I'm mature

In the ways that count,

So what does it matter?

Do dolls do me harm?

They won't get in the way of life,

I promise,

So please

Just let me be

That child

At heart.

Sunlight filters through the leaves,

Each with its face turned up 

To meet the sunshine

And glow.

Against the pale blue sky,

Their joyful light and life

Fills my eyes

With color. 

The stripes of bark and foliage

Extend as far as I can see,

Concealing magical adventures

All the way.

I long to swim

Through the shining sea 

Of delicate ferns

To uncover

Those adventures. 

I see a mess of long lost trees

Which look to have been cleanly chopped 

Many years ago.

I wonder who has done it. 

The thought is so vivid, 

I can almost see their cabin

Beyond the trees.

Back in real life,

In the present day,

I feel a firm log beneath me

And soft leaves

Gently tickling my thigh.

I have stopped jumping 

At the loose hairs

Blowing against my shoulders.

They don't feel like spiderwebs

Anymore

Because parinoía 

Is gone.

A queen bee's buzz

Doesn't startle me, 

But instead blends

With the incredible chorus.

Of birdcall

And the unusually quiet hum

Of my rambunctious sister's voice.

The stench of bug spray

Doesn't bother me.

It is muted 

By the fresh, tangy smell

Of greenery.

It even adds

A sort of summer-like

Sweetness.

In the hollow

Of our own imagination. 

Writing, drawing, dreaming

With my sister by my side.

Both with notebooks in our laps,

Happy to have each other.

To understand 

The other's thoughts,

To enjoy

The other's hobbies.

To adventure

Together, 

But to still be unique.

Being our own people, 

Doing the same things

But each in our own way

In the hollow.

We hike through the woods,

Down towards the creek, 

Paying no mind to mud.

Adventures we seek.

And there it is running

So clear and so cool, 

So thick and so fast. 

It encases rocks, trees, and logs.

The sound of its flowing,

Like a breath of fresh air,

Sends tingles up and down

As it relaxes my body. 

We think of water as blue, 

But look a little closer

To see the real colors. 

The clear water shows

The dark mud below

And reflects white and blue light

From the sun and the sky

On the surface.

All you must do is

Look a little closer.

Oh, the wonders God has made! 

He is so incredibly amazing!

The holidays are here! 

Do not waste them, 

Be you in joyful cheer!

Do not stress,

Be happy,

And please do not worry.

If the season is too busy 

To be enjoyed at all 

Then you have mistaken Christmas. 

It is not about buying a gifts, 

Not wrapping it, either.

It is about Christ, whose praise I lift! 

Though the tree with its lights 

Will be taken down

Once Christmas is over,

The best gift remains year-round. 

That gift is Jesus, 

The Son of God.

Oh, how beautiful autumn is! 

The air so clear, 

So cool,

So clean.

My mind is far away.

My eyes are on the leaves,

So brilliantly yellow!

They seem to glow

In the intense light.

The sun is shining bright,

Unhindered by the clouds.

They are there,

So puffy and white,

Floating

Across the sky.

Ah, the sky!

So pure and blue,

So very big.

The scene is overwhelmingly peaceful.

The earth feels so huge!

God's wonders are endless.

From the chattering squirrel

Up that tree

To the neighbor's cat

Looking at me,

God made them all

So full

Of beauty.

Dear self:

Always remember to pray,

"Dear God, thank You."


When I am happy as a bright blooming flower,

I will try to remember

To pray

To God.


The good things I will think about

Will cause me to shout,

"Thank You

For all You have given me!"

And I will pray

For those who have less.


" Dear God,

Thank You for my family.

Thank You for my home.

Thank You for my faith.


Please comfort those who have no family.

Please comfort those who have no home.

Please show Yourself to those who have no faith."


When I am sad

It won't be so bad,

For when I'm gloomy as a rainy day,

I will pray

To God.


The future won't be dim

Because I will lean on Him.

I will explain to Him my troubles,

And He will always listen.


"Dear God,

Today my anxiety got out of control again.

Today I argued with my siblings.

Today was a bad day."


I will try to be thankful in

All that happens and once I begin,

It will be quite easy.

This is why:


Everyone since Adam and Eve

Is a sinner.

I am a sinner,

But I am forgiven

Because Christ, 

The perfect Savior,

Died for my sins.


Now all I must do

Is trust in Him to

Be saved;

To live forever

In a perfect paradise, 

Heaven.


I have so much wonderful stuff,

But it's not enough

Without this faith

In God.


He loves me so praises I sing

For He is always listening.

He will always be with me,

Forever.


So why shouldn't I pray?

Happy or sad,

Angry and mad,

Good or bad,

We should always pray.