To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the young viking writers read Frank O’Hara’s “Animals” and Richard Brautigan’s “A Boat” and “Catfish Friend.” They were then tasked with writing a love poem to an unexpected object of admiration. I’m so proud of these fantastic young adults.
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Dad Took Me to the Zoo
by Sofia S.
When I was shut
in the dark room
windows shut so I
couldn’t even see
the mountains
of our vacation.
The shadow buried
into my shoulder and
reached into my mouth and
stained my insides
festering.
I banged on the door
slid down the moldy wall
floated above
and
threw my body against
the carved wooden bedframe.
Booked a plane ticket back to normalcy
but chose the wrong destination.
Threatened to become the shadows
but the door slid open.
Lights on, lifted off the wet carpet
I remembered
going to the zoo on his shoulders
now I was the animal
buried in the dirt
he took his shovel and began to dig.
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My Dad’s Old Triumph
by Louis B.
For now
an unreachable dream of freedom.
For now you are covered in webs,
a dead odometer of my father’s old adventures
I cant stand to look at.
If only I had the money.
If only I had the skill to fix your heart.
If only my parents wouldn’t freak out every time
they see me work on you.
Although it was 10 years ago…
although it was 10 years ago, I remember
the rubber of the tires
the high of the gas
the red paint, to me a 1990’s rust bucket
was a red rocket.
Daydreams of a highway
when I close my eyes I see myself riding
I see 10 year old me with a smile on my face.
For now
an unreachable dream of freedom
but I swear the moment I can
I will blast off in my new red rocket.
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Home
by Sam N.
1 minute to go
it’s cramped in here
gauges, dials, buttons, switches
only one empty spot
just a little tape
I’m taking a piece of you with
I jolt as the engines fire.
It’s like a bucking bronco
rumbling, tearing through the clouds.
The ground is getting smaller.
The stars are becoming clearer.
Engines cut.
It’s strange in orbit
no longer bound by Earth
but still connected
I know you’re looking up right now.
That means it’s time to come home.
The engines fail.
I can feel the panic on the ground
but I can still make it.
This is not my end.
I will take the picture.
I will come home.
I will be in your arms again.
I belong on Earth
with you.
I pull you closer.
I belong in space.
I’m coming home.
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Poem
by Dawan T
My life carries on
as I glide my way to success.
My brighter days showed me the road
the way I look at the lavender flowers,
it hides my ear buds so the teacher won’t see.
It shield me from the haters watching.
I gives me.
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Stay
by Kaii V.M.
Love never leaves
the person may
but love never leaves your bones
like a bunny hopping over my chambers
and frightened away
a one in a million chance
just ripped away from the grasp of my passion
they looked like dream turned into
a nightmare
tears of blood roll down my face
my words begging to be freed
but I capture them as they try to escape
Like seeing a shooting star
it will never happen again
like a candle that was unlit
a fire that ends its ravenous red
for one reason
“you’re just not enough.”
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Poem
by Theofania T.
White and blue glistens
listening to the calm flow of the waves
taken back to the days where nothing mattered
no problems, stress, frustration,
remembering the times we went on vacation
and we talked about our next vacation.
We had plans, views, and determination.
The rocky mountains off in the distance,
large and tall, you couldn’t miss it
stopping on the side of the road to pick up the greenest,
going to the corner stores for Fanta
drinking them all day by the beach because we wanna.
