Her eyes were as large as the moon,

And her tears sparkled like a starry sky,

Never had I seen a more beautiful person cry.

She was as elegant as the sea,

And as quiet as a brook,

Never had I seen a more forgiving look.

The whites of her eyes watery I saw

She mourned one long gone but not forgotten

And the stars gleamed in the two moons of the beaming sun

She will never be missed more than the night misses,

Day or the moon misses the sun,

But she brings all together,

And never in a million years,

Will I see a more beautiful person cry.

Leah <3

Copy Write 2009

The world can be a cruel place
Sometimes it smacks us in the face
It would be nice if I could erase
All of the pain connected with this place

Most of us have a hard time showing how we feel
Even when we are sharing a meal
We keep ourselves isolated with a strong seal
When we should be expressing how we truly feel

We put each other down
By spreading the word around town
And when we think we have the crown
Another thing brings us down

Most people always want more
They buy and buy until they are poor
And even when they’ve eaten the apple to the core
They are still hungry for more

Many of us carry a heavy load
Our lives have become a complicated code
And when we try a different mode
Our shoulders carry an even heavier load

When people turn cold
While looking for that pot of gold
No one does what they are told
And the world becomes dark and cold

There are things that we cannot save
In this cold and dark cave
And yet our path we still must pave
But first, our time we must save

We all have a different shade
And yet we have all paid
A debt that all of us have made
From which we can’t hide in the world’s shade

Several of these words go deep
But most of them we will not keep
For our minds won’t let them seep
Our minds no longer are that deep

Most people have gone blind
Oblivious to what’s happening in their mind
Which makes us all one of a kind
But still, we are all blind

We are so caught up with material things
Like clothes and toys and diamond rings
Sometimes we have to pull some strings
Because we forgot the meaningful things

We swear and hit and make others cry
When we are in trouble, we lie
Soon I fear our hearts may die
And seeing this makes me cry

Paranoia and disease have spread
Just like peanut butter on a slice of bread
Can I trust you with that needle and thread?
Or will you chaos and disaster spread?

Everyone is trying to take the lead
Some cheat and don’t take the time to read
If we did, more of us would succeed
And then, maybe, we all could lead

Many of us often use the phrase "I love you"
But in past days, people would only say it after "I do"
The meaning has been lost in this corrupted slough
Because now everyone says "I love you" to you

We believe we are walking through a field of mines
Selfishness has broken our weak lines
From our neighbor we are hiding that pair of nines
And avoiding stepping on those planted mines

Someone once said, "Life is like a garden"
Let’s not take ones hearts and make them harden
Instead, when a mistake is made, give our pardon
So, I suggest you take a stroll through your garden.

Copy write 2009

I sat down by the edge dock and tried to zip up my ‘little mermaid’ life jacket. “ Daddy, I need help!” I pouted my little fingers barley holding on to the pink zipper. “ Here Pumpkin,” Said my dad kneeling down next to me. He zipped it up and held my hand. “ Carry me Daddy!” I said and he lifted me up high above his head. He spun around and I laughed. “ Come on lets go.” He set me down and led me to the edge of the dock. There was a big (almost like a ship) boat coming into shore and I was so excited.

Dad and I got onto the boat and a woman with long brown hair walked up to us. “ Mommy!!!” I said as she hugged me. “ Hi honey, are you ready?” I nodded and dad picked me up. “ We’ve been waiting a long time for this trip.” Said my dad. “ We sure have…” my mother trailed off. I lad my tiny head on his shoulder and drifted of to sleep.

When I woke up I heard yelling and there was water everywhere. I was in such a daze but managed to get out of bed. Mom was sleeping soundly but dad was nowhere to be found. We were in the ‘captains quarters’ or so my dad called it. I heard a yell from outside and went out on to the deck of the boat. “ Daddy?” I gazed all around the boat but didn’t see him. “ Daddy!” I said and rushed to him. He was hanging on with one hand to the back of the boat railing.

“ Honey, go get help fast! Go Pumpkin! Please! Hurry!” he was trying not to show his terror. I ran as fast as I could but it was hard with the boat moving so much; the sky was dark and cloudy. “Mommy!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Where are you? I hear from the cabin. “ Mommy!” I said again and saw her running to me.

I turned around to point and show her what was so clear to my blue eyes but didn’t seem to be clear to her at all. I saw him slipping. “ No!” My mother screamed as a huge wave raised above us. I started for the railing and tripped. My head hit hard and my world was fading fast. “Daddy…” I said. “I love you!” he said right before he let go. Just as my mom reached me I blacked out.

Copy Right Leah Backstrom 2009

“ Come on Dotty, we need to leave now! Pepi, that is not a chew toy! Ginger stop tugging we’re going to get home soon!”

I’m a dog walker; funny thing about it is I hate dogs! I can’t stand their smelly breath, greasy coats, and always having to take them out side to do their ‘business’. I am defiantly a cat person. Cats take care of them selves; you don’t even need to give them baths. I want to quit, trust me I do. I know what your wondering if you hate dogs so much, why are you a dog walker? Well let me fill you in…

I was just finishing up work one night at Bob’s Burger Shop. I was really tired and wanted to go home. I had one more table to serve and I was done for the night. I was carrying the tray over to the table and wasn’t watching where I was going. I didn’t see the wet floor sign next to the table and slipped landing face flat on the floor. Not only was I in pain but I also looked up to realize I had shoved our best costumers meal right in his face. to sum it up: I lost my job, and I needed another job.

So that’s how I ended up here, walking three extremely restless dogs around in the park. I guess it isn’t so bad; it could have been much worse and I actually get paid pretty well. If fact, I’m getting the hang of this. I guess I won’t quit. “ Not again Pepi, these are my good shoes!” maybe not.

(I wrote this when i was at IMC. i added and fixed a few things since then but it’s still really awesome!!)

Have you ever had a secret?

That you couldn’t tell a soul,

It distracted you from everything,

Hiding it was your only goal.

Have you ever had a secret?

That could hurt someone real bad,

If you told the wrong person,

You could make them very sad.

Have you ever had a secret?

That involved someone knew,

I have a secret,

That I’m not telling you…

When I say I’m different, what do you really think of? Do you think it’s because I’m shy, or because I am younger? Is it because I come from a different family or I have different friends? Is it the way I dress or the way I wear my hair? What could be so different about me? Then again, what’s the same?

I know that everybody’s different in his or her own way. We all come in different ethnicities, have different mannerisms and even have different physical characteristics. But it’s more than that. We all have our own little details of our lives and ourselves that make us different.

Growing up I got bullied, teased, and picked on because I was what they called ‘different’. I saw them do it to others too. I never said anything because I was afraid, afraid of what they would say. I should have said something then. I do now. I stick up for all my friends because they stuck up for me. They saw my differences and liked it. Finally a person likes me for me. I am different and I’m proud of it. It’s what makes me, me. No one else can change that. Sure, I may be a little different but its what’s different about me that made me unique.

Copy-write Leah Backstrom 2009

Ever wonder why things that go "bump" in the night are things that you never see? What exactly are the things that go "bump" in the night? If you’ve ever thought about that, and still do, this story might help answer that quesion. This is Tommy’s dream

Tommy’s Dream

By: Mariah Lichty

I’m walking through the dark forest, swea glistening on my face, and my heart, well, let’s just say I’m surprised I haven’t woken the vampire bats that I see hanging in the trees.

(unfinished)

I’m sorry that I love you,
And can’t help but be there,
I’m sorry that I miss you,
And always truly care,

I’m sorry that I smile,
Whenever I here your voice,
I’m sorry that I hug you
When you make a good choice,

I’m sorry that I’m happy,
When I see you in the morning,
I’m sorry that I need you,
Without a single warning,

I’m sorry that life’s better,
When it’s you I see,
But most of all I’m sorry,
For letting you hurt me.

Copywrite Leah Backstrom 2009