Swan

Drifting
held up
by the water's
current
her neck twisting,
turning, swaying,
with the breeze
suddenly
excited wings
beating webbed feet
pushing the water
aside
rising up
she flaps toward
the sky
drifting
held up
by air under
her wings

by Thea, grade 8

100 Words

She picked up the pen and dipped it in the thick, black ink. The ink dripped onto her paper, soaking through the blotting paper and leaving a dark mark right in the center. Oh no, she thought frantically, it looks like blood. Suddenly, without any other warning, she began to shake. The pen dropped from her grasp and rolled across the table. As if on cue, she dug her nails into the dark wood of her desk until they bent back and bled. Blood was good, oh yes, blood was what she wanted. Her eyes glazed over, and she fell...

by Lia, grade 8

New Butterfly

Dangling
held up
by its branch
splitting open
cracking pieces
falling
stepping out
hanging
antenna
unrolling
wings unfurling
opening, growing
filling
with life
fluttering
shivering
warmth or the sun
warming
its new body
settling in
its new skin
letting go
flying
soaring
alive now.

by Thea, grade 8