Oft there come these pitch black nights
Untouched by heaven’s perfect lights
And in those nights we fail to see
Lost in darkness, but alone by no means

For lights soon prick the canvas, black
And with their beams loneliness lack
But carry with them friends, or love
They come with Truth the dark to prove

So lose not hope in blackest dark night
But pray until you see the light
For clarity accompanies luminescence
And faith shines forth in clarity’s presence

A dragon trapped me in the walls
Of fortress worlds away
My hope: one day a knight would come,
Bring me from dark to day

I took a candle, every night
And with a falt’ring tread
I set its tiny flame upon
The sill close by my bed

One day, I said, someone will see
My silent, wretched cry
My plea to search within my walls
To grab my hand and fly

But unlike that which Psyche saw
My candle showed no face
Just blackness, not a star above,
A plane of empty space

Jules leaned over the stovetop to stir her meat, wrinkling up her nose in pleasure over the smell. Steam was lazily drifting towards the ceiling, giving off the most delightful aroma. She hummed to herself while sprinkling in the seasonings, smiling over the words to the tune that wouldn’t leave her mind. She was halfway through shredding lettuce leaves when she heard a knock at the door. “Coming!” Her voice was cheery, and she dried her hands on her apron while practically running to the door.

We are, very concisely, a walking contradiction.

Our brains are buzzing with thoughts and ideas, but we can’t sort them out in time to say what’s on our minds, so we can sometimes come across as quiet.

We are energized by social activities, but at the same time we quickly become exhausted because the bigger the group, the more people there are for us to read and feel and asses. It’s emotionally tiring.

We crave adventure and spontaneous trips, but our own homes and beds are our favorite places to be.

She was walking alone in the dark, her light blue stilettos clicking insistently on the sidewalk. Her floral cocktail dress was damp from the foggy night air, and she pulled her sleek white coat more tightly across her chest. She shuddered and looked around, shrinking away from the shadowy buildings before taking off on a run to the door of her apartment building. She had been holding in her tears for hours now, and once she shut the door behind her and slipped her coat off she let the river run.

Growing pains are
Just that
A time for growth
Stretched out by nearly
Abysmal
Pain
But I think too often
I
Am so caught up in the pain
Of it all
That I forget to see the light inside
Of growth
Or to appreciate the changes
In me
So help me to remember
That waiting isn’t empty moments
That getting to know
Someone
Doesn’t mean that I must
Fall in love
Remind me of the grounding truth
That friendships are not
Obligations
For something
More

Removed for magazine entry... I’m keeping my fingers crossed!!
-Damaris Ann

I dozed off a little once it was morning, and woke up to stewardesses opening window covers and serving breakfast.
The captain’s voice came on, in a prim, polite British accent.
“Good morning, passengers, we hope you had a restful night. We’ve just passed over the Isle of Mann, and will be beginning our descent into London shortly.”
Isle of Mann…London…Whoa. I peered groggily out the window. The sun was just getting high enough to lose its morning softness, and I squinted against its growing glare, trying to see down through the patchy clouds.

The glory of the bride is found
In the love of her groom
Her face is glowing brightly
As she walks into the room
The purity of her gown
Is the prudence of his choice
And her veil is the image
Of his kind, protecting voice
A blush is sitting gracefully
Upon her smiling cheek
Accentuated sweetly
By her gracious spirit, meek
The groom is standing tall and firm
Yet gentle is his hand
As he pledges his covenant
In front of all the land
His promise of sweet faithfulness

I stand here before,
I'm waiting to see.
T call out your name.
Will you hear me?

I'll give you my heart,
And all that I am.
I will be yours,
Please believe me.

So ask and you'll find
The key to my heart.
Unlock the door
And receive me.

If you say that you
Don't need me,
Just take a look around;
And remember, I'll be there
When others let you down.