Westford School

I know things
that you do not.
Lean closer,
and I will tell.
Now you know,
but you still
don't know everything.
There are still many secrets
in the world.

Savvy

By Braeden Hughes
Westford School, Grade 8

I step onto the beach
sand between my toes
sun warming my body
I walk to the water
letting it run over my feet
I dive into a cold wave
then finding a nice spot in the sand
I sit back
and slowly drift off to sleep

When I woke up
I was in my bed
facing my window
I could see the snow
laying across the earth
forming a white blanket

"Snowday!"
I heard my brother shout
so I fell back to sleep
reminding myself
of memories
at the beach

Who is she?
Everyday, even worse.
Concealing herself from the world.
Maybe the world concealing itself from her.
Know one knows.
With the mask she wears,
Know one knows who she really is on the inside.
No friends,
no family,
no love.

Who is she?

Writing

By Brian Roberge
Westford School, Grade 7

when you write you let your emotions go
writing is freedom in a keyboard
or in a pen
your life in a paper
or your world in a screen
that's what writing is
it's a way to escape
into another world
a land you create
so when you start to write
don't let people hold you back
because if you remember that
writing is your own
and whatever you say is what you want

I'm locked up,
away from you.

I'm tied here,
away from you.

I'm waiting,
away from you.

If you love me,
Get me out.

Mirrors.
Are they cursed,
or does it happen to everybody?

Mirrors.
They have the same effect on me
Wherever I go.

Mirrors.
Why can't I be normal.
What is the difference between her and I?

Mirrors.
I have to break free from this trend.
But, how?

Mirrors.
All right, one last look.
Here I go.

Tears.
Pouring down my cheek.

Tears.
They keep coming whenever I think of you.

Tears.
I can't hold them back any longer.

Tears.
Here they come

Facebook

By William Dunkley
Westford School, Grade 7

The reason Facebook is so popular is all the different options on the amazing website. You can chat, send flair and make graffiti. I think you can do something called bumper stickers, poke people, comment, upload pictures, and much more. It is very addicting.

Having a Facebook account is like having a whole other life. Have you ever noticed that on the internet you can have one conversation on Facebook, another conversation through messages on Facebook and a whole different conversation on AIM all with the same person?

Words

By Brian Roberge
Westford School, Grade 7

words can be weapons
but not everybody knows that
because when they say things
they think it rolls off my back
but words can be weapons
so they are spears in my side
and they are tipped with the poison
of disrespect
people don't know it
but there is no armor for words
because words can be weapons
and I have the scars to show it

I'm always standing there
but nobody ever gives a stare
because I'm just waiting there
for someone to come
I wonder if I'm doing something wrong
for all the people that ignore me
but when I try to talk to them
they just walk away from me
so I think that if I wait long enough
maby things will change
but those are far off dreames
of a better time

I listen to what they say
all of them behind my back
they think i'm not listening
but they are mostly wrong
because i'm not trying to listen
i'm trying to block it out
but thier condecending words
penitrate my shield
talk of how i'm just a loser
talk of how im strange
but i know all of that will change
if i can just persevier
but as soon as i move an inch
they quickly stop their talk
but as when they think i'm still out
their hurtfull words hit me again

Sticky syrup
dripping into the bucket.
A sweet aroma
fills the cold air.
You take a breath,
it appears in front of you.
Trudge through
the knee-deep snow,
pulling your foot out,
then stepping back into the snow.
You repeat this pattern
untill you reach the sugarhouse.
Open the door,
the aroma hits you again.
Vermont.

Your Worst Nightmare

By Lindsey Flanders
Westford School, Grade 8

Other people around you are staring at you because your heart is thumping so loudly. It feels as though it will fall out any second now. Mrs. Smith swiftly walks by you, dropping a 5-paged, double-sided test in front of you. It lands with a huge “THUD.” She sets a timer: you have one hour to complete the test. If you don’t finish, you never graduate 8th grade. You don’t get any extra time to finish it.
The students around you are busily writing. Your hands start shaking as you look at the first question. What is 2+2? That was easy! 4! You confidently look at the next question.
What are the first 50 numbers of pi? Your head is blank. You have no idea, so you right down 3.14 and 47 other numbers.

While the wind turns pages of rain
she sits by the fire in a cozy nook
reading someone else's sorrow and pain
turning pages of a luring book
feeling agony of the slain,
but somehow detached
taking a faraway look
separated by a pane
made not of glass,
but promises mistook

“Ahhhhhhhh!” I screamed waking up in a fit of hysterics.
“Would you like some medicine to help you sleep?” Ask the overly-protective nurse from the annoying speaker box on my bedside table.
“No, no, I’m fine. I don’t need anything. I’ll just try and go back to sleep on this lumpy, old, hospital bed, and try my hardest to forget.”
“Now Katie,” she said in a soothing voice that I heard way too often. “You know you can’t just ignore this…..it happens….it could happen to anyone…..”
“No! It doesn’t just happen!!!” I screamed back at her, hitting the speaker box as hard as I could. It fizzed for a second then died.
Okay, I thought, this could have happened to anyone, but why me? This question swirled in and out of my mind before I fell asleep. My dream wasn’t any better.

There she was, up there, by herself.
“Sissy, look!” I looked, I was scared, but I looked. Everything about her reminded me of perfection. The snowflakes melting on her young, yet beautiful eyelashes; the frozen pieces of hair that my mother had braided tightly to her head, her pain skin, practically blending with the snow. I chuckled as I thought to myself, that we’d probably lose her if it weren’t for her cheetah print snowsuit.
“Okay! I’m going?!” She yelled. Here we go, brace yourself. She smiled at me while I noticed the fact that she clashed completely with her blinding sled. I saw her bright pink gloves and cheetah print body struggle to get moving, until finally, she was going. Her eyes were glued shut and she let out a little shriek. As she finally landed at my feet, she looked up at me and said, “DID YOU SEE THAT?!”

Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
The Clock ticked. Sweat formed on my upper lip. He was sitting right there! I knew he was thinking it too!
R iiiiiiiii N G!
Stupid phone.
"Well," he said reluctantly, "There's my mom..."
"Yeah." I said in reply. Honestly? I mean come on! Just tell him!
Ugh.
Maybe tomarrow...
Here we go.
Same scene, different day.
The clock ticked. Sweat formed on my upper lip.
"Charlie?"
I said, whispered, actually.
His gorgeous brown eyes slowly drifted toward me.
"I have to tell you something!"
We said in unison. 'Completely syncronized, we're perfect for each other...' I thought to myself
We both laughed, we were both uncomfortable.
His perfect, white, teeth reveled the most mesmerizing grin.
"you first." I said, thinking that just maybe, he was wanting to tell me the same thing I was about to tell him.
"I finally asked Amanda out!!" he exclaimed. I suddenly lost my breath. It felt like the wind had just been knocked out of me.
My
Heart

Everyday I see you. (sigh of joy)
We sit near each other in Math.
Everyday I see you,
And I have a sudden urge to talk to you,
Ask you something.
But, a strong force holds me back.
i want us to be together, and not ruin
Our friendship.
As days go by, I wish we could hangout more.
I want to be with you.

Forever.

Your hurting, aren't you?

you hold a grudge against her

because of her feelings for him

she's sorry.

Your angry and sad, frustrated.

I understand,

but sometimes you have to let go

Now instead of just yourself

your hurting her

she wants to be friends

but your anger stands in the way

Let go.

The Silver Glade

By Braeden Hughes
Westford School, Grade 8

quiet footsteps in the glade
across the brook, in the shade
midnight moon, full and round
the trees whisper, a soothing sound
from the velvet of the night,
a fair maiden flits into the light
willow slender, light and quick
shining hair, long and thick
free for now, but it will not last
her time is up, it's fading fast
clouds shift, the moon is gone
smooth and graceful, like a swan
the maiden is no longer there,
seemingly vanished into thin air
until this day, one month hence
she will not return with confidence
in this quiet, moonlit glade
her chaotic life she can evade
seeking happiness and peace
she comes to the silver glade

I'm trying, struggling for a way to get to you.
My love for you is deeper than the largest ocean.
We have many things in common.
Movies.
Music.
That crap.
I've tried and tried to get into your arms.
But failed.
I know you love me.
Somewhere.
Somehow.
Please, just accept me for who I am!
I want to get to you!
Don't worry.
I will keep trying.

Forever.

Field of Dreams

By Emily McGill
Westford School, Grade 8

It was a cool October morning with a light breeze. The mist, so gossamer, was floating in the air.
Stepping cautiously over the fallen twigs and branches, she came upon a field of birch trees. She had explored this field many times before, but something about this visit was different.
Something caught her eye, glistening among the trees. She walked over, cautiously, not knowing what it was, and was astonished at what she had found:

A Silver Birch

Where would I be without You?
What would life be like,
if it were missing You?
If I was without the on that
Hurt
Me the most?
Where would I be without
Abandonment?
Pain?
Would life be easier
if I could go Everyday
without feeling Traded?
Where would I be without the
Man
That I see four times a year?
I wouldn't be.
If it weren't for that Man.
If it weren't for my Dad.

Say what you want
Judge as you please
but My question to You is
Could You Walk in My Rubber Boots?
step in my shoes
I'll show you how it feels
You'll be the hot topic
I'd assume my name tastes good
it rolls off your tongue
with the pre-conclusion that everything's true
You say you're My friend
but step in my Rubber Boots
see from my view
You would envy my strength
if You could see what I go through
Be unwanted
Be empty.
My dad's long gone.
My mom tries her hardest
Walk a mile in my Rubber Boots.
Try to keep up.
I dare you
just for a day or two
maybe I'd get more credit
if you spent thirteen years in my Rubber Boots.

I ran through the woods, my backpack flailing madly behind me.
I had my pillow in one hand and my stuffed bunny in the other - I wasn't turning back.
I didn't even want to look back, for fear that I would chicken out and crawl back into my mothers arms telling her that I would never run away ever again.
But I didn't look back.
I liked the sense of freedom, the sense of thrill.
I lived for it.
I wanted to let fear swallow me whole before I went back.
I wanted to actually be afraid - something I hadn't felt in so long.
Some things are just worth it.

Today is perfect for snuggling on the beach
Today is the best to curl up and watch a scary movie
Today's perfection reminds me so much of you
The way us being on the beach, you'd ruin the view
Watching a scary movie with you, is scarier than than the zombies they shoot
my heart is locked and you can't have the key
We would have been so cute
too bad you weren't good enough for me

I know you love me
You've told me for thirteen years
but when does that go
from deep meaning
to just Three Words?

I can feel the bruises
behind my smile
I Will see the bruises
after a while

The wooden stairs
have broken my fall
His fingerprints on my neck
are remembered most of all

I know you love me
you've said it before
Do you really mean it?
Because I'm crying on the
cold wooden floor

It's ten past ten
and I fear I'll never see her smiling again
but she's got a sparkle of hope
in those baby blues
she's expecting something great
she wants to wake up new
she's got one chance
she needs to take a risk
she has to earse what she had with you
you never liked her back
and she knows that too
she's tried to convince herself
but shes exhausted from the moping
she has no more hope and shes moving on
she's smarted and up and is finally coping
she wants to foget ever loving you
you've got a new girl
but that's nothing new
this is the routine
she sits and waits for you to leave
and come back her
admire her beauty
feed her lines
you wrap her around your finger
her fate resting in your palm
you take her delicate heart in your hands
then we start over again

She lifts her chin
and says that was the last time
but thats what she said the time before
and the one before that
but she just has no self control
gettting over you

I recall a time
When the words you spoke
made my fingers shiver
my heart would go numb
and My knees would quiver

But it was nothing
this time
Just words

Like you are to me
Just words
Just a boy
Just a killer
and I'd lie if I said
It was
Just a Heart Break