Page 21 - The Muse 2019-20 Issue

The Wild ID
The heart of the wild, the decider of fate
The winds howl and whine, calling its name Taking on ferocity, simply innate
Killing in an instant, unaccompanied by shame
Assertion of dominance, that of an alpha Terrain is claimed stretching like river Rhine Energy circulates the body, with veins of plasma Only one force greater, that of father time
The natural inclination to sink its teeth
To tackle and kill, all with a grimace
Killing all those in the food chain who lie beneath All in the world of survival of the fittest
Flora and fauna alike, scared of the same mate Seek comfort in the dark, the shadow of flame Finding a sanctuary, guardian gate
Imbalance in society, who is to blame?
-Daniel Hagenlocker, Grade 8
Blue Ribbon
My Star Gazing
The sky, dark and ominous
Sprinkled with twinkling sugar grains,
each their own sparkling crystal
They’re all dead, but does it really matter?
Their beauty lasts much longer than their own life,
but their patterns?
They forever shape the sky.
The grass flowed peacefully, shaking with the trees A wave of wind washes roses and stargazed lilies over my long body.
I smile faintly, remembering what I had once said. The sunflowers stood high above us, closed,
until their sun, their star, shone on them again.
As the sky slowly shaded into purple and orange, I turned around to meet her “sun-kissed face.” She was still cherishing what little stars were left,
her dark almond eyes
reflecting their beauty perfectly.
Her pale white skin, being gently caressed by the light,
and my breath gets caught in my throat.
This was the brightest star, I could see a whole galaxy in this girl.
Her body was an explosion of energy!
An entire universe, the dust of life moving through
her small body,
unlike the dead and plain stars that could be found
in our choking atmosphere.
As the sun, my star, rose,
No one could help but continue gazing. The sunflowers unfurled, showing their
bright yellow extremities,
But instead of facing their sun, they chose to face mine.
Huh! Seems like I was right, my star is the brightest.
-Giovanni Bernile, Grade 8
Blue Ribbon
Giovanni Bernile, Grade 8
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