In my dream
I was about to warn him.
He was in the crowd waiting to board
on the other side of the barrier.
Knowing everything that was about to happen
I was about to reach across the darkness
waiting to devour him
across the gulf
three years wide
and pull him back.

I had the power to rescue him
before it was too late.
And then, just as I was about to open my mouth -
I stopped.
How was I going to undo everything
that was about to begin?
I was strong enough to bring him back.
I could not carry everyone else.

The wounded gull in flight
Banking, rolling, spinning, dropping
Through the everlasting clouds of night . . .
A shining light

Free-falling above the still streets
The dark, drab, dreary streets
A hailstorm in declension
Upon the dreamless streets

The pealing bells, loud and deep and dear,
In vibrant despair
Singing from the belfries.

Sweet strangers lying,
Resting on the soft moors,
The still fields of Dumfries.

Freedom is....

Freedom is, A beautiful tree standing in the sunshine,
And a bright red apple falling from a tall tree.
Freedom is, the land of a great place in the world;
and it is birds chirping, and wind flowing through the windows;
Your finger tips just writing away.

- Justin Fox, Grade 4.

Peace

Peace is not having wars and not fighting;
Peace is the birds singing when I wake up in the morning;
Peace is sharing and caring for others.

- Jimmy Stewart, Grade 4.

Freedom, Peace and Equality
Birds

We can Love a little deeper, we can love a little more,
Oh what treasures we are to each other,
And for each tomorrow, Oh what our Dear Lord
holds in store.

In my absence, do not worry or fret,
Though I have left you for a while,
Remember my dreams and aspirations
Remember my gift of giving and my warm smile.

For my sake and in my name,
Take pleasure in small sentiment,
Know God's way of ceasing darkness by his light,
And know his joy through sheer merriment.

Cling not to your loneliness
on the wings of empty days,
Instead, fill the cup of each moment fully,

Beachgrass, as if frozen, stands still
and lethargic waves crash
slowly...
Alex, I think they miss you - they
whisper
your name - but somehow I know
you're always with them forever.

___________________________

You were always the sunshine...
but the sun hasn't set for you, Alex
my friend -
it has only risen
on another
beach.