Opus

Wayland Middle School's Literary Magazine

Beautiful Travels ~Rachel Lorenc

Written By: admin - Jun• 14•12

In a highway of vehicles
small, compact, and silent,
or loud, groaning, and stinking of exhaust,
there is one whose pungent smell overpowers:

The bus.

A bus so cramped,
that trying to fit both pairs of knees,
two backpacks
and two smiles,
shining so annoyingly bright
for 6 in the morning,
into carpeted seats
is nearly impossible.
But Liana, we did it,
everyday.

A bus that became a home
away from home.
Outside the restraints of brick walls,
leaden with the strains of social status
comes a place where music plays
to the beat friendly teasing,
friendly laughing,
and friendly friend making.

Maybe other busses
were a place to get from here to there,
but our bus,
our bus was different.
It was a place to laugh,
to tell stories,
and lean on a shoulder
when eyes
slowly
droop
close
and the engine rumbles
into the night.

Seeing You ~Claire Purrington

Written By: admin - Jun• 14•12

Slab after slab,
Engraving after engraving,
Hill after hill.

All these lives cut short,
All the stones cut for them.

Why were they killed?
Why would someone do this?
Why the innocent?

Sun rays
blind.

Path unclear.

Their death
uncertain.

Slab after slab,
Engraving after engraving,
Hill after hill.

Life after another-

Gone.

Honor ~Johnny Bartick

Written By: admin - Jun• 14•12

Nervous,
Form square,
Step up to white tile,
Listen to Commander
Wait for Commander to get
Into his spot,
Step with left foot,
Whoops!
Stepped with right.
Have to fix footing.
One slow substantial step.
Reach bottom of,
The paper white steps,
Stop and watch.
Wreath laid,
Hand over heart.
Listen to “Taps.”
Turn around,
Wait for Commander to get,
Into his spot.
Step with left,
Relief,
Stepped with left.
Walk up white steps,
Done.

In Flight ~Dasha Bobrova

Written By: admin - Jun• 14•12

The Wall ~Sten Shearer

Written By: admin - Jun• 14•12

I remember the day
they cut me from the quarry
I remember they sliced into me. Deep.
They trucked me far away.

More torture. My silent screams.
Smaller cuts now.
Like bug bites… With metal teeth.
Precise.
Names of fallen men.

I learn before they take me to my final
resting place.
I learn why.

And I am proud.

Names, crosses, diamonds, dots.
All hurt in their own way.
But it is a good hurt.
I suffer to help those who suffer more
recover, recuperate, remember.

Yes, it is a good hurt when
I see a young man fixated by his
father’s name.
An old woman brushing the tips of her
fingers against her husband’s engraving.
A smartly dressed comrade salute
his fallen friend.
I wish I could salute back.

So I am proud.
Proud to have been selected
for this
Eternal Honor.