There is a painting of some forgotten queen

That hangs in the museum downtown

She watches stoically the patrons passing by

Her lips tight in neither smile nor frown

I’ve often admired her majesty

Though she may look homely by modern times

She is lauded as a work of fine art

In spite of the way her face creases and lines

They marvel at each pore and blemish

The cracks in her lips and the spot...

I grew up a lonely child, and the only comfort I could find was on the old abandoned dock over the lake in my yard. I never showed anyone the dock. That is, until I met him.

I was 15 when he moved into town, he was 17. We met at the local diner where I worked at the time. He came in with his family and when i first saw him, I swear he was the cutest boy I’d ever seen. He had messy black hair and ...

As Zack stared out over the still waters of the lake, he thought about how much his life had changed in the past 3 years. The sunset was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen despite his circumstances. The air was cool and fresh. He sat under the wood arc, his back against the wooden wall, as a slight wind picked up the further he got into the evening.

He thought about the build up to ...

The sun sinks behind the purple mountains as the black sky takes its place.

Lily looks at me, her eyes glowing in the last sliver of sunlight. Sometimes I can’t make myself believe that a girl as beautiful and amazing as her is dying.

“So,” Lily says calmly, “You grew up here. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

My eyes leave the sun and meet hers, “For what?” I ask.

Lily sighs, resting her elbows on ...

Crickets sing a riverside love song as a million stars twinkle overhead, barely visible against the reddened sunset. Nightfall will come quick tonight for the couple underneath the stars.

“Rylee,” Ravi whispers as they lay on their backs on the sanded deck and watch the sky glitter like a billion tiny diamonds.

“Yeah, Ravi?” Rylee slides her hand over and takes his in hers.

“Why did we come her...

Electrifying love.

Everlasting, permanently engraved on my heart

Sending shocks through the soul

Watching the water

Rippling across existence

The cold on fingers

Like poking time

Feeling it rush by like the fish

Admiring the sky

Pink of the blush on my cheeks

Red like my lipstick

Orange like my favorite color he remembers

Purple like the color we dyed my hair that night

Stars like the ones tha...

Sitting on the other side, dangling my foot on the water.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Wha-what?” My heart dropped.

“I can’t go to prom with you.”

“Uhm,” I mumbled, fidgeting with my rings.

I looked at him, then looked at the sunset beaming on the lake.

“I just can’t, I can’t pretend that day didn’t happen.”

“What day?” My mind went blank, and no memory was found.

“The day you kissed ...

Watching the soft colors of the sunset blend into darkness, was something I grew up doing. Hanging my legs off the end of the dock. Barely touching the tip of the cool blue water.

“It’s beautiful,” Kai came over and sat down next to me. He handed me a hot chocolate.

“I didn’t think you noticed things like that.”

Kai half smiled, “If I noticed you, doesn’t that mean I do?”

I looked up at Kai sighin...

Crickets sing a riverside love song as a million stars twinkle overhead, barely visible against the reddened sunset. Nightfall will come quick tonight for the couple underneath the stars.

“Rylee,” Ravi whispers as they lay on their backs on the sanded deck and watch the sky twinkle like a billion tiny diamonds.

“Yeah, Ravi?” Rylee slides her hand over and takes his in hers.

“Why did we come her...

Somehow, my bare feet avoid being pricked by the splinters that reside in the planks beneath me. The dock creeks with every step I take, drawing nearer and nearer to it’s edge. It is has grown old with me; while I thrive, it withers away.

The water gently ripples beneath the wooden structure, softly lapping at the support beams. I pause, hoping to take a moment to admire the strength that the pi...