e-Gazette

**Welcome to the Truman e-Gazette ! This is our on-line literary magazine!**
==This is an opportunity for our ninth grade students to express themselves through creative writing. While the initial submissions are poetry, our magazine also accepts short stories. All entries may be sent to fbmerk@btsd.us or drein@btsd.us for consideration. All submissions are subject to editing. Enjoy!==

__Daily Schedule__ Waking up in the pitch black

Struggling to reach my clock

Eventually rising with pain in my back Using all the energy I got I stumble to brush my teeth and shower Thinking I have the power Eating breakfast and leaving And on my way to school At first I sit there grieving For the early days of school But soon the day ends After many hours learning And being with my friends I assemble my work and head for the buses I stress over my work I have to do   While hearing a lot of cusses I am dropped off to start my walking on foot While the sky pours Finally reaching the last steps Of my house door By Josh N.



__M__ __u__ __f__ __f__ __i__ __n__ __s__  Muffins in the oven   Blueberries bubbling Cupcake liners getting warm Temperature at 350° Bottoms turning brown   Tops turning golden   Aroma filling the kitchen Taste already on my tongue Chocolate chips melting    <span style="color: navy; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Oozing through the dough <span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">One for Mr. Merk <span style="color: gold; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">One for Mrs. Donahue   <span style="color: navy; display: block; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Muffins for the soul! = =  Kaitlin K.

**// Five O’clock //**
======== // When I get home I sit and wait //

// Already knowing that I haven’t ate //

// As I wait for this time to come //

// I play video games like a lifeless bum //

// The time has come to go upstairs //

// As the plate waits to become bare //

// An essence of food flows through my nose // // I watch the food come, and watch it go // // My stomach is like a black hole in space // // I always make sure that I stuff my face // // The food is gone in a record time // // All the food I ate just blows my mind // // My tummy hurts and I am done // // All my fun has turned to dun // // I remember all the pain in store // // For eating so much, like you haven’t eaten before… // **// by Aaron L. //**

Loss  //While one team basks in victory,//   //Another hangs their head in defeat.//   //As one team gets cheers and applauds,//   //No one remembers the one who lost.//   //They go to sleep with pain in their chest,//   //Knowing the other team played the best.//   //They shake the others' hand,//   //Hiding their tears,//   //Wishing they could play again,//   //Wishing for the cheers.// Tom S.



Tumblr! Tumblr! Everywhere everyone is going there. Black and white We all unite. We go there to express ourselves, and Bringing confidence to ourselves. Reblog different things on your blog. Your Tumblr followers will help you through it all. Being Tumblr famous is not important every second you are strolling to see images you are enjoying. The fashion to see The girl or guy you wanna be. The food you want to take out of the computer screen and chew. But what you see on Tumblr is mostly true. Tumblr is very addictive, but some things on there are restrictive. Tumblr’s what a teenager calls an unimaginable dream That adults won’t even understand the theme.

By Benita H.

Rinse and Repeat

The Nagging, Yelling, and the Cursing.

The conflict in me to either yell back or reversing

They tell me I should do better,

In everything I do.

School, Chores, Everyday life.

The door slamming, the fading voices.

The decisions, the choices.

Opening of doors.

This is a bore.

Everyone calms down.

Hugging, laughing forgetting.

Until the next day.

Rinse and Repeat. By Erika S.

**//Perfection//** //Lights glistening over shadowing the stars,// //I see the models walk the runway; graceful and majestic bodies moving like the moon across the sky. So perfect so flawless, big, beautiful eyes, full lips, small, thin and tall, their hair at perfect length, an exact vision of perfection.// //I look at myself flawed, not perfect, rotten like an old apple. Why can’t I be like them? Why can’t I have that look that… that perfection, that flawlessness?// //As I get out of bed and get ready for the dance, I walk past the mirror hesitant to look, but look anyway. Who is that in the mirror in that red, dazzling, elegant dress, alluring smile, and hair so soft draping wistfully along her face?// //It’s me being just exactly who I want to be, fierce like a tiger but gentle like the sea, gorgeous like a flower, shining radiantly like gold in the sun like diamonds in the moonlight,// //I’m just being me.// //I realize I’m perfect in my own special way. I’ve finally noticed that today. Everyone in their own way is perfection on display////.// //by Nana K.// **__GROWING UP__** I wish I could travel back to when I was still a child.Hand in hand we would stand as each of us smiled. We were all best friends, nothing could tear us apart. Our names were engraved in each others’ heart. Now that we’re older everything is switched.We all stand alone, each person left ditched.Sometimes I wonder how it all happened so fast. As the time flew by our friendship passed.I also understand that we all grow up.We change for different reasons, like for better or worse.We mature, move on, and learn new things.We all look forward to what the future brings.We despise our weaknesses, and admire our gifts.We look back on our memories, and wonder the reason for our drifts.In the end I understand the scheme.“You can’t hate the player, you gotta’ hate the game.” By Denise G.



**//__Track__//**

I’ve got muscles to stretch  Muscles that ache,   My legs run swiftly   As my arms go along,   My heart pumps loudly   Ringing in my hears,   My mind is nervous   Wants to win,   I look at my foes,   Determination seeping through,   Finally I realize, this is what I’m here for. By Andrea O.  “Puzzled”

Should I put the pieces back together? Should I stay or should I go? Walking away may be easier but sometimes it’s worth putting in the effort. Sometimes it’s easier to leave the glass broken than getting hurt by trying to put it back together. Love is fragile. Easy to find it, easy to fall apart. I hear the voices in my head, The devil on one shoulder An angel on the other. So today is the day, We put the puzzle back together again. By Carina T.

My Fridge J

It’s a clutter of success and a mess of memories Cards from birthdays, marriages and anniversaries Papers from aced tests and Awards from band, Certificates from debate All the pictures we hate The magnets hang strong Holding up some things we did wrong But the things we did right Dangle bright in the light The passing grades Picture of you by the pool Hanging round in your shades Pictures you drew From when you were two And the memories you make Down by the lake. They all hang there, Without a care, Held up by Mickey Mouse and a sun There is simply a ton Of magnets to go around For the clutter of success and the mess of memories That hangs on my fridge as if they were trophies. By Daphne W.

Tired I’m tired, Tired of trying, Tired of working It only gets harder, But I don’t want to work No motivation to work with, Just keep moving forward I don’t want to anymore, but I can’t stop, I’m spiraling down I don’t want to try anymore, but I just keep going It’s easy now, and it just keeps getting harder This isn’t where I want to be, but It’s where I always am I don’t want to  Feel like this anymore But I stopped fighting It’s hard to walk away from something That you can’t get away from Close your mind to yourself But you’re still there Can’t leave myself behind Because I’m always right here with me Stopped trying so much But I still try the same No motivation to start with I’m just getting tired. By Ryan K.



I  Eat Pizza   Like There Is No   Tomorrow. I Eat Pizza  And Leave None To Borrow. The Greaselicous, Pepporonific, Goodness  That I Love Dearly So, Teases Me As The Cheese   Dangles To And Fro. As The Last Bite I begin To Devour,  I Realize That The Pizza Is All Gone And Cry For An Hour. By, Tom S.

All a Smile Can Hide

Always happy but underneath, A broken smile lies. Just like a veil, it consumes Just one crack of a smile The master of disguise. Yet a smile doesn’t make things okay. So why do some perceive it that way? A bit of guilt or shame Just another bad day? Unhappiness lingers just under the shadows No one can detect it Like a turtle it hides Hidden, but always there. by Stephanie D.

Maintenance I've got grades to maintain & homework to do   Work after school & money to make 11 o’clock hits & I walk through the door As I put on my pajamas & make something to eat That’s when it hits me…. I think its bed time….. I wake up and open one eye I see the sun rise as I know its time to get up   That’s when it starts all over again By Brandy W.

The Ballad of the Sea

The salt blanketed the air Settling in their brittle hair Sabers hung upon their hips A tidal wave rocking the ship. Pallid tone despite the sun, Need for an orange has begun. Some bore a patch upon their eye Even still, none would die. Cannon fire roared all about Toppling a vessel most stout A mighty surge brought the ship ashore No longer were the pirates poor For a bounty of gold lain in wait A prize for a journey rent with hate. But alas, the battle had just begun For their next foe would surely stun. Just up ahead assuring they’d rage Was none other than the beleaguering Nick Cage. By Olivia W.

Life You are born You can crawl You can talk Then you can walk Time goes by   It’s time for school The day is over its time to go home Years go by   Its time for high school You go through struggle You go through pain The thought of failing goes through your brain School gets harder And so does life You graduate high school Then life feels great But then friends fade away And love turns to hate You find a job and hope not to be late You need this profit to start a life You find a girl who becomes your wife You get older then and life starts to crumble Life gets boring So sad and so humble You get old and it gets harder to live You think that your life is starting to give Your losing your life Happy turns to cries Next thing you know Life Just died. By Miguel S.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">Heat vs. Lakers <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">LeBron to Dwyane <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">down the lane  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">in the hoop  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">they go insane  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">Kobe has the ball  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">pass to Gasol  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">dunk on Mike Miller  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">LeBron gets the ball  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">#killer  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">breaks all their ankles  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">the fans are thankful  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">Steve Blakes fouls LeBron  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">starting to get too frisky  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">crowd goes wild  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">starting to get a little risky  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">LeBron to the line  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">sinks them both  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">that's just fine  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">cause Kobe's going in  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">all by himself  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">almost blocked  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">but criss cross  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">pass to Chris Bosh  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">3 seconds left  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">from half court  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">with a shot  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">and a pray  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">its in. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">By Yventong C. Lyric Poem

To think And to dream in ink To scream and yell and cry on Blue lines

Don’t tell me Don’t tell me to describe Don’t tell me to add this Delete that and fix the syntax

Nonsensethe random scribblings Of someone with something To say and say it I will

Don’t tell me Don’t tell me it’s Wrong Don’t say to me Change Him Her And them

Because they are mine My characters My villains And protagonists

So don’t tell me Don’t tell me I won’t be best-selling Because it’s all I’ve got By Kassandra D.

** “The Weight Taken Off My Shoulders” ** Humiliation, Pain, Pressure, Mother Figure, Secrets, Obligated, Unwanted, Death, Lies, Depression, Hurt, Confusion, Alone, Unsure Fear. Family. Them. They’re Closer. They’re Here….But Nothing has changed. The pain is different. Different; in an even worse way. Me. Them. That instant feeling of maybe, just maybe, there Is happiness. Then realizing… A Home? Is Not what I had. But who knew words could be such a big impact. Them. Turning my life. Completely Around. Acting as medicine. Taking the pain away. It’s Home. By Sarah C.

Never Ending Winter Night

Above the clouds are beautiful things Among the eagirds and the lovely trees In front of my eyes are the stars so bright Instead of the sun is the moon at night Inside my chest is a heart full of beats In addition to a stomach full of dancing butterfairies I was then sitting up against a tree

Hoping to find somebody to share this never ending winter night with me

By Christina G.



A Paper, A Pencil

A paper, a pencil An eraser that’s red A canvas, a paintbrush An idea that’s not dead

Some glue, some clay And an entire day Some wax, some wood, An idea that’s good

Red shavings build monuments, On a platform of white To create something beautiful Is an everlasting fight

So the graphite shatters Into gray dull stars And the acrylics dry Growing unseemly scars

A tear, a scratch The letter ‘X’ Crinkles and wrinkles Mask the rejects

Poor little jail cell Force-fed shattered dreams Another mistake It always seems

Sword drawn again Made of nothing but wood And if I could stop Don’t you think that I would?

By Katherine K. Again I’m Asked

Now or never Embrace vulnerability Or stay a rock No right answer All alone a choice must be made.

Now or never Hopeful with no expectations Or continually bitter? Those three words have power Rebuild or persist?

Now or never A kite in the breeze Or a rock So once more it’s asked. It must be now. By Stephanie D.

** The Choice ** It awaits me every day and night The question, the choice, bright as light Which one? What choice? Is there a wrong or right? I can’t decide, For both don’t lie Both have beauty, Both have meaning, One goes right, the other west. Up and down, north and south, Choices! Options! Oh I don’t know how! Convincing and persuading It takes to me, One starts fading into a pea. Finally I pick, for this one will be more memorable. This one! This one! It shall be. By Andrea O.   Dad You are now a slight breeze You are now as light as a feather You are now in a place that makes you happy A place where your spirit is free But a place you are not Is here on this earth with me   I can no longer call you see you or speak to you I can no longer hug you or tell you how much I love you You left me feeling alone but F orgiveness, is in fact, the final form of love Kaitlyn P.   **//__ My Guitar Sings __//** I have a tune to make Strings to strum Tuning to tend Sweeps to try Picks to buy My guitar sings Pop! A string to snap A pick to lose Calices to mend A knob to fall A guitar to shine But my guitar sings. By Anthony H.



MY SUMMER DAY WAKE UP  SMELL THE SUMMER **//__AIR__//** Think shore

Get dressed get my

Bathing suit **//__ zip __//**

Go into the car shake because of excitement Smell the salt water Run into the ocean Become upset Because I have to leave Become happy Because I will Come back tomorrow
 * __ Up __** mybag

By Matt T.

=This portion of the on-line literary magazine is devoted to the type of poetry that conveys its meaning through pictures made from the words. Enjoy!=