Haikus

By Nicole Trujillo
Rushing water pours
from Arizona fountain
splattering cool mist

Sharp cactus pairing
pale green beauty of our land
unmoving resource

Today, unlike Yuma
cool breezes blow pleasantries
on a hot desert

Small solar campus
filled with desirous scholars
propelled towards a promise

By Alba Amador

Twisting winding branch
the uncarring wind steals us
leaves flutter unknown

The sun is my source
the flower turns to your warmth
the wind kills petals

Man made water source
brick and mortar, beautiful
nothing grows here alone

Life

It is painting a white, white room
Always easy at first,
Till you begin.

It is working
Harder than before
It is stretching

Up on your toes
Trying to touch
The sky

It is kneeling
It is getting dirty
And finding

That you are always
One brush short
It is panicking over every mistake
And going over every mistake
It is staring at the cracks

And the streaks
It is obsession
Maybe

You will find a partner
To work alongside you
The complimentary
To your primary
Color

It is praying
They do not
Overpower your work

It is bending backwards
Holding your hands up high
It is sweating
It is sleepless nights
It is consuming

Sometimes
God will let you
Finish
Others
He will say
"begin again,"
or
"that is more than enough"
Or
"It is time to come home"
It is letting go.
 

By William Devey

Saying Goodbye

His tears were streaming down his cheeks. I don't really understand why he seems so sad. As he knelt beside me he told me that he will miss me. After that he pulled me in close and held me tight. I will never forget his scent; it was the one I had known since I was very young. We had been together for ten years and I knew him well, but I had never seen him like that. When he let go he patted me on the head and said, "Be a good boy," I licked his hand. He smiled and walked away. That was the last time I saw my first master.

Driving

My eyes went red as I clicked into place.
Rushed! The rage rose like the increasing speed
Behind the wheel I have become a monster
A beast of legendary tale, ready to pounce.
Attack I did with all my fury.
Honking and flipping, and chanting war cries.
Semi-trucks have become my terrible bane
They cause me to swell up and scream profanes.
Looking back my face went red,
Not out of anger, rather embarrassment instead.
Now I must say sorry to Haley I acted a fool.

By Briana Harris

The Service

The room filled with tears
though no soles were wet.
The body lay peacefully
though heartache rest in each individual.
The chants ringing repeatedly
though the silence lurked quietly.
Another hug to ease the piercing hurt of the loss
adds another tear to the mist.
Another glance at the body
throws another memory in your face.
But there is the smile that reminds you
It will be okay.

The Machine

The rubber and metal plug
is the only thing keeping you alive.
What if someone trips over it?
What if there is a blackout?

Your life rests on the two metal prongs.
How easy it would be
for an accident to happen.
For that tiny bond to be broken
and the life lost.

The heavy reliance on a manmade object
is the only thing keeping
the air in your lungs
and the blood moist in your veins.

One small miniscule mistake of calibration
or some electrical malfunction
and the life once so cherished
is gone forever.

Life Is Like Water

One day your soul settles calmly
another day it whips and crashes
You may feel elated in evaporation
or depressed in precipitation
You may feel cool and calm
or feel boiling and overwhelmed
No matter which state you are in
the cycle will continue to flow.

Conformity

The small buzzing gnat
Flying in no direction
Going with the crowd

Photo by Helen Morgan