I sit in my chair
staring, seeing, spotting
a pool of glistening water
peaceful water
and I imagine.

I imagine running my fingers
through the pool,
watching the ripples fade
as I lift my hand out
and spot my blurry reflection.

I would walk down
to a fountain surrounded 56 columns
and 4,000 stars
I would lie down
while I look up at the stars
and listen
to the drop of water behind me.

I would climb up the steps
counting each one by one
until I reach 98
and I would stand at the top
looking at the empty chair
and staring at the towering obelisk
in the distance.

I would wander
back to my chair and
sit down keeping my left
leg in and my right leg out
and I would open my right hand
and close my left hand
and I would look straight.

I sit in my chair
staring, seeing, spotting
a pool of
glistening water, peaceful water
and I would imagine.

A wall.
A black wall.
A black granite wall.

As this image comes into focus,
You notice a
Stone path
Beneath your feet.

There is a staring
Wall of darkness,
Unblinking.

You see names.
You have never met these people,
So they should not matter to you,
Right?
But they do matter.
To you.
All of them.

You see the crosses.
Crosses of what is lost.
You find the diamonds,
Of what is found.
And you see both melded into one,
To remind you,
You can always find
What is lost.

As you stand and watch this wall,
You realize you are
Outside.
You are in a
Grassy field.
With this wall.

You start to notice
Raindrops
Pounding on to you.
Each one,
A tear felled.
Felled in fear.
In hope.
In vain.

You reach out your hand.
You feel their names.
You feel the names
And others who felt.

What is lost?

184
birds dance in the air
and on the ground,
free from haunting memories
that litter the grounds,
the feathers color,
smooth smoke.

184
watch as a plane
passing over head,
waves its wings
in salute
to the day
these birds crashed.

184
wings stretch,
they cower
or they bravely face
remembering
one side above all
from the five.

184
of them tell their stories
through the slow,
trickle of water
they whisper
their secrets
through the leaves
of the trees.

Each row
a year,
each wing
a bird,
each name
a story,
a journey
never to unfold.

Did you find me
walking through the
rows of those
who will never die in their
permanent resting place?

Did you walk with me
and put your hand
on my shoulder
in between the clean cut
shimmering stones?

Did you search for me
to remind me
that I am never alone,
even though I was surrounded
by those who are?

Did you whisper my name
while you stood by my side
among the white beacons?

Did you breathe in
next to me
the fragrant perfume
of all of the flowers
that you love?

Did you sense
the breeze that
makes the leaves
ripple under the sun
I know you love that.

Did you come
to see me?
Because I know
that you were there.

Summarizing Sixth Grade
by Lizy Flagg

I was told to write about
The glorious Sixth Grade,
From the studying
And the tests,
to the Memorial Day Parade
From the House Days
And the textbooks,
To the POWs and mysteries,
From old african kingdoms
To the Nile River, Please!
From volleyball to soccer,
Geometry and sketching,
From dulcimers and drumsticks,
To algebra and painting,
From the great King Henry’s castle,
To the stunning world of Pipin,
From the reading
To the writing,
And back to reading yet again.
This year will always be
An everlasting memory,
But summers finally here,
No school until next year!