I Am From - 09.01.09

I am from long walls of photos,
From concerts, and weddings, and home sewn,
From cookie dough at midnight,
And watching Aladdin til dawn.

I am from Disneyland with family,
Little legs chasing after long,
Music in my ears.

I am from long talks with mom,
From walking and talking like dad.

I am from rise and sparkle mornings,
From lock the door and turn off the lights evenings.
Seven older siblings hugging and screaming,
Five sisters all in one mirror,

I am from a little bit, a lot, but not too much,
With so much to give and to hear.

I am from fingers flying,
Hearing them on piano keys,
Light as air.
 

The sounds of happiness and sadness,
The smells and tastes in the air,
This is where I am from.
Journals amongst my books,
And a box of pictures on the shelf,
All reminding me of what used to be there.

- Kimberly H. G. (16 years old)

Family - 08.10.09

Family; so complicated, confusing and rare,
Eight siblings, each with their own worry and care.
We grew up together, and we grew up apart,
This being so we each had a different start.
Christine; sweet and caring, always the motherly sister,
Gentle, artistic, and a great listener.
I was too little to really know who she was,
Older now I love who she is and all that she does.
Julie; a favorite to many, so amazing and fun,
Complicated yet wonderful 'til the day is but done.
I enjoyed her company then and I enjoy it now,
Never harsh words between us, never a row.
Richard; my gentle brother, a soft flowing river,
A writer, a drawer, and a great advice giver.
Young and silly I played with his monsters now and then,
Past the annoyances I caused we are friends once again.
Eric; a young boy at heart, a Disneyland lover,
Fun, talented, and a great brother.
He used to let me play his games, and to the movies we went,
With him life was fun and light 'til the day was spent.
Emily; energetic, spontaneous, always moving,
Loving life and friends, her music grooving.
Life is never boring when Emily is there,
I love her dearly and will forever care.
Anna; my musical sister, talented and strong,
Beautiful, intense, she's hardly ever wrong.
Not the closest of sisters though we were,
I've always aspired to be as successful as her.
Janet; a natural born leader, righteous and steadfast,
Forgiving, caring, and headed for great things fast.
We never got along and we fought often back then,
But times have changed and now she's a closest friend.
Youngest of eight, I don't really know yet who I am,
A little of all seven, I'm learning from them.
I hope to learn soon where amongst them I stand,
To play my part well in this large family band.

- Kimberly H. G. (16 years old)

Over and Over - 06.20.09

Over and over, playin' over and over,

Can't get it out of my head,

Now it's playin' again,

Haven't heard it in awhile,

How long has it been?

Over and over, playin' over and over,

I used to sing it back then,

As I stood by your side,

You said that you loved me,

Promise me you never lied.

Over and over, playin' over and over,

You and I there,

Us walkin' down the street,

We looked so nice,

You smelled so sweet.

Over and over, playin' over and over,

Passin' by that record store,

Thrilled to hold your hand,

Next thing I was being twirled around,

Us dancin' there to that band.

Over and over, playin' over and over,

It became our song,

'Til the end it defined us,

Playin' in my head,

Sometimes I think it still does.

Over and over, playin' over and over,

Can't get it out of my head,

Now it's playin' again,

Haven't heard it in awhile,

How long has it been?

Over and over, playin' over and over.

- Kimberly H. G. (16 years old)

Blitzkrieg - 04.01.09

Chapter 1: Healing

“Quickly! We need more water!” my mother screamed to my father, “John! Look out!” I had been hiding under my bed, too frightened to cry. It had all happened much to fast. Not but an hour before we had been eating dinner, but when that candle had fallen everything went wrong. It could have been a simple fix and everything would have been fine, but I tried to help. I had never tried to use magic before. Being only three at the time, what could I have known about it? All I had wanted to do was to help my parents. It had gone so, so wrong. The magic flowed from me, but instead of quenching the flames, it did the exact opposite. The fire spread faster than ever at an uncontrollable rate. There was no way anyone could have stopped it.

“John! No! Please, no!” The roof had fallen and my father was covered in blood. My mother tried frantically to free his limp body. The smoke was becoming unbearable; I could hardly breath or see anything. I felt the bed shake and saw for an instant the loose board underneath come flying towards me. I heard my mother's voice one last time before my world blacked out and I was knocked unconscious. “Bobby? Bobby, please! Mommy can't find you! Bobby!” She was sobbing harder than ever.