RELIEF
by Tyler Copp
What is this burning in my mind, the turmoil in my soul? I only did what any other person would have done. What made them different than me? My conscience scalded me, searing my eyes until a stream of cool tears ran freely down my face, across the flushed skin of my cheeks. Why did I feel like this? I ask myself why, but I know why. I refused to give in, but who am I fighting against, myself? Then who loses if I surrender and who wins? My hands trembled as I wiped the remaining tears from my chin, reaching to rub hard at my eyes. The chaos parted around this one word, allowing a moment of clarity amidst the storm. This was my only salvation. I stood on shaky feet, forcing myself to make my way towards them. This idea was the scream of my consicence, the enemy of my pride. I picked up my pace, running to my only relief. Forgiveness.
THE FLAVOR OF A BROWNIE
by Tyler Copp [Junior]
A tray sat solitary, casting a soft pink glow across the speckled table top. The contents were approaching nonexistence, revealing the black and white surface of the table through the reddish lens of the container. Dark spots riddled the tray, reminders of the chocolate treats that were now a recent memory. In this rectangular space, all that probing eyes could find was a lone brownie, crumbling along the edges, where it was cut from the others. Fissures ran along the surface of it's fragile top, revealing the moist heart of chocolate, safe from the thirsty air. For others, it held the promise of a sweet gift of dark flavor, the stiff, dry breeze doing nothing to diminish the strength of it's taste. As for me, memories were hidden in it's shadowed layers, each crisp crunch of a nut reminding me of a warm home and a loving mother. Pink colors were thrown from a solid, steady tray, as my dad had shown care while retaining a safe place for his own gifts, his sweet children.
As the brownie found it's way down my throat, I retained the aftertaste, the sugary specter around my tongue. My parents were God's gift and though they would be gone some day, my memories would presrve their flavor.
HEARTS AND WATERDROPS
BY Tyler Copp
Thunderheads clashed above, each one pushing to become the dominate feature of the bleak sky. Lightening raced across the black underside of those misty monsters. The blasting wind across the plain carried the scent of the pines and oaks that grew off to the east , but the smell was diluted with the odor of rain.
Suddenly, the wind let up, and the lightning calmed it's frenzy. The grass of the plain hushed and stood still in anticipation. A lone gleam caught the meager light and transformed the scene. What was a passing terror became a hiding beast, unable to retain it's disguise. The dull glow of the sky seemed to focus on one spot, a single obsidian sphere. The midnight orb plummeted toward the earth, serving as a messenger, a prelude, to the approaching catastrophe. It's descent quickened as it's freefall elongated it's shape, mocking the frightened tears of those who dwelt below the hearless force of nature. Few saw the harbinger of sorrow that hastened it's way towards the onlookers, but there were those who did realize the false calm, the illusion of hope being torn from their minds.
The lightning began it's tangled war again, each intersection of blazing light causing a chilling explosion in the sky. The gale screamed in glee as it loped across the bending blades of grass, far outrunning the frightened creatures that scurried away from this renewed battle cry of nature. All the while, the solitary drop of liquid neared it's destination, it's ultimate end. As the dark shape broke against the crouching foliage, the sky mirrored it's action-it's demise- and shattered.
Thunderheads surrendered their structure, abandoned their shape, and became a black ocean, heeding the call of the shattered messenger, imitating it's descent, but on a scale that promised to leave no witnesses, taking no prisoners.
That day, the only break greater than the fracturing sky, was the break of the victim's hearts.
LOVE SOWN
by Tyler Copp [Junior]
Charming season now beginning,
Bring the plow and till the land!
Wisdom heeds the Father's calling,
"Take the seed, sow by the hand!"
Not so soon but not too late,
Flowers sprouting from the earth!
Pull from ground the weeds of hate,
Protect and shelter Love's first birth!
Storms will come and they will pass,
Damaged growth left in their wake.
Determined crops shall surely last,
Tend the fields for Love's dear sake!
Many plants give in to death,
Blooming, many more have lived!
Life sustained through Father's breath,
Beauty stretched out in the field!
OLD MENTOR
[written about and in honor of Tyler's teacher, Mr. Gilge]
The Old Mentor speaks fluidly.
Masterful thought sets into motion,
Rhythmic voices, stirring emotion.
Slowly, words fall into place:
A smile upon the Old Mentor's face.
FORGIVENESS
by Tyler
The things they've done are in hindsight,
Forgiveness isn't saying it's alright.
What they did may well be bad,
Causing more pain then they think it had.
You're telling them you won't hold a grudge,
This is a case where you aren't the judge.
Give them the benefit of a doubt,
Show them what Christ's death is about.
He never said the sin was ok,
He just took the blame away.
Expect of them what character permits,
But treat them as though they were blameless.