Enjoy these poems and short story beginnings of Grade 10 student writing. We worked on developing personal style, using great verbs and writing brilliant first lines.

They say when you drown its not the lack of oxygen that kills you but the final breath where the water invades your body, I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m sure I’ll find out.

Lani Haas

A light flickers on, a man waits at the doorstep, leather jacket, dark sunglasses and a grin with one golden tooth. “Hello, Elijah.” Without being invited in, he ducks under the taller man’s arm and enters the house, his eyes are wild, shifty, alight with excitement. “I have a proposal for you.”

Amy Norris

It was like it was a reminder that we were not in control, or a message from mother nature herself that she did not like what we had done to her earth. It came from the earth and was merciless, no man-made object could stop the river of death it created. It sat there dormant for years showing no signs of movement until the 4^th of February 8 days after the ‘houses’ were installed. The day where we lost it all.

Bridie Aulich

The waves crash against the sand like an asteroid plummeting towards earth

The waters cold like a snow blizzard in the middle of nowhere

The waves move into the river like a snake silently waiting for its prey

The rain races down the trees to surrender itself to the river

The river ends where the trees go dark and no one can see no more

The water is soft and quiet

When you’re under you can hear nothing but your thoughts

You can start to see your memories flash back

But then suddenly gone again as fast as the rain falls.

You can feel your face break the surface as you take a breath of air and the frosty air surrounds your face.

The sun is on your face as it vanishes behind the trees and suddenly your standing in a river of darkness.

The river of darkness moves slowly and slickly through your legs and into the darkness.

Kate Aulich

Not every one will see your magic

It’s T

        R

            A

                G

                     I

                        C.

I do my best because I’m counting on you… you counting on me

I’m not trapping you, I want you to be free

Be who you wanna be

Like a sun

Alas a bee,

You shine brightly

Find you,

Find me

You’ll know where I’ll be.

No foe can fight your generosity

Come along friend

Thick and thin, through til’ the end…

Ellie Gamble