Bethany Sullivan

From Far Away

By Bethany Sullivan
Mount Mansfield Union High School, Grade 11

Sugarcane streamlines the bus
jostling and jumping
over a not-so-paved road.
Tall and bright, tasseled at the tops
vividly green
but somehow not quite right.
Because for me,
green is the Green Mountain State
even when the mountains
are painted so white.
It`s my turtle-green junker of a Jeep
that I like driving to school
over potholed dirt roads.
And it`s the green ink
that proclaims `Made in Vermont`
on a gallon of pure, rich maple syrup.
It`s the wide pastures
where Vermont holsteins munch
and make milk creamy as a daydream.
It`s my best friend`s eyes
inquisitive and humorous
and the emerald green on the New England Federal Credit Union sign.
It`s the eruptions in the trees
of electric-shaded buds
when spring comes.
Green is Irish luck
or a healthy lawn
and it also seems to be everywhere.
But for me
it will always be home.

The Skating Pond
By Bethany Sullivan
Mount Mansfield Union High School, Grade 11

Snowflakes melt into droplets
Suspended on the wool fibers
Of red mittens.
Stinging fingers buried inside
Grasp at another mittened hand.

A blue glove pats the girl’s back.
She’s never been skating before,
But the boy strides backwards,
Arm extending as he tugs her after him,
Coaxing, a laugh in every syllable.
She follows, catches on,
And soon stands on sturdy legs,
Taking ambitious strokes.

Snowflakes pirouette from a young, gray sky
The sun seeps behind the mountains,
Pooling on the horizon
Like melted butter
On Christmas morning pancakes.
Snow,
Like confectioner’s sugar
Collecting in the boy’s hair
As he skates in strong strokes,
Both laughing out
Gingerbread house laughs,
Breath misty on the lively, crisp air.

Carnival colors, captive
In strings of lights,
Twine around the pond
Glowing like candles,
Flames of joy vibrant
Against the twilight sky