TEEN COUNTYWIDE PUBLICATION - Pinellas … my heart and the One I love waiting to come in. “Dear Lord I play, dear Lord I pray please Father take this pain away. I admit my sin and

MOSAIC TEEN COUNTYWIDE PUBLICATION

FALL 2011 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 1

Pinellas Public Library Cooperative


MOSAICTEEN COUNTYWIDE PUBLICATION


MOSAIC

A Publication of

Clearwater Public Library System100 N. Osceola Avenue

Clearwater, FL 33755(727) 562-4970

Dunedin Public Library223 Douglas AvenueDunedin, FL 34698

(727) 298-3080

East Lake Community Library4125 East Lake Road

Palm Harbor, FL 34685(727) 773-2665

Gulf Beaches Public Library200 Municipal Drive

Madeira Beach, FL 33708(727) 391-2828

Gulfport Public Library5501 - 28th Avenue S.

Gulfport, FL 33707(727) 893-1074

Largo Public Library120 Central Park Drive

Largo, FL 33771(727) 587-6715

Oldsmar Public Library400 St. Petersburg Dr. E.

Oldsmar, FL 34677(813) 749-1178

Palm Harbor Public Library2330 Nebraska AvenuePalm Harbor, FL 34683

(727) 784-3332

Pinellas Park Public Library7770 - 52nd Street

Pinellas Park, FL 33781(727) 541-0718

Safety Harbor Public Library101 Second Street N.

Safety Harbor, FL 34695(727) 724-1525

St. Pete Beach Public Library365 - 73rd Avenue

St. Pete Beach, FL 33706(727) 363-9238

St. Petersburg Public Library System280 - 5th Street North

St. Petersburg, FL 33701(727) 893-7318

Seminole Community Library9200 - 113th Street North

Seminole, FL 33772(727) 394-6905

Tarpon Springs Public Library138 E. Lemon Street

Tarpon Springs, FL 34689(727) 943-4922

Member Libraries

–– 1 ––

poetry

Awaiting the Leading CallMolly M., 12th grade, Clearwater public Library

Soft white paws stride across the snow.Embedding their mark into the world.Piercing gold eyes scan the velvet horizon.Majestic indigo mountains hymn.

Melodiously with sorrow of the Great White One.

Arctic winds sweep through sparkling fur,Betokening the hardship ahead.Forlorn howl rattles the crying earth.Loneliness would be the death of him.The white wolf surrenders,

Settling into his freezing grave.

As snow knives waltz down from the sky,Distant howls rumble the stars.Ears perk and twitch, detecting the signal.Soon, more and more howls join in symphony.Synched, they are drawn closer.

Dark Shadows are thrust upon the defeated.When grieving lashes unlock,An avalanche of surprise pumps his heart.Steady forms surround the Great White One,

Awaiting the leading call.Standing up to his legendary heights,The white wolf howls.All, as one, follow his song in harmony.

poetry

“InterventIon”Hunter L., 8th grade, Clearwater public Library

The lieutenant yelled the order.Boots scarred the ground, buckles fastened.

It began.

The Arrows, the Devil’s sleet, soared overhead. A torrent of damnation.My comrades and I, helpless.Only Shield and Sword,plate and chain.Mud soaked, dented armor,Falling encumbered by the burden of life.

Others fled,Only to be smited by the metal crashing down.But we kept going.

(Running, running)

(The sanguine sky)The OverseerWatched my failureAnd my fortuneAnd fight-Burn.

CoLor DrAWINGCupcakes R Our Best FriendsBincy Biju, 9th grade, Largo public Library

INk DrAWING PriceDaniel French, 11th grade, pinellas park public Library

–– 2 ––

poetry

Stuck in a CycleLisa Wallace, 10th grade, Dunedin public Library

Meet Laugh Together,Laugh Together Happy,Together Happy Enjoy,

Happy Enjoy Talk,Enjoy Talk Discuss,

Talk Discuss Disagree,Disagree Argue Yell

Argue Yell Fight,Yell Fight Split,

Fight Split Alone,Split Alone Lonely,

Alone Lonely Isolated,Lonely Isolated Depressed,Isolated Depressed Seek,

Depressed Seek Spot,Seek Spot Approach,Spot Approach Meet,

Approach Meet Laugh,Meet Laugh Together…

peNCIL DrAWING

Wolf Boyedward Barros, 7th grade, Dunedin public Library

poetry

Unquestionable Love

Nicole Harrison, 10th grade, Largo public Library

Why should I fall in love with you.We are opposites can’t you seeFor you shine upon the world with warmth and grace.Though they shut you down with fasting and haste,I take cover to dull your light.Though you shine with all your might.Why should I fall in love with you.Well we are all alone. Just us two.I above and you below.I’m always shocked by your glow.With your curves in place and the connections with

your lowly base.Could you fall in love with me.I push you away.Once you said you loved me too.And I said I love you back.But can that be true with what I lack.I’m nothing more than a wall in your way.For how can you travel, me blocking you today.Fine, I tell you the truth we can always be.We will always be together you and me.Forget the differences and embrace your gift.We will always be together, twisted tight.Though I cover the lights you make.But that is the love of light bulb and shade.

pHotoGrApHy Butterfly DreamCaitlyn Burnitis, 11th grade, St. petersburg public Library

–– 3 ––

pHotoGrApHyUntitledraina Baker, 12th grade, Dunedin public Library

SHort Story

FacelessJennifer Sowers, 11th grade, St. petersburg public LibraryShe had ruined it all for him. Ellen sat, examining the thick white bandage that covered a third of her friend’s face. She wanted to lean forward and lay her weak head against his chest, just lay there and sob. But she couldn’t, she was the one who... Ellen closed her eyes digging her fingernails into her knees, forgetting to breath for a second. What if he didn’t remember what happened? The idea made her tremble. She would rather him know than have to tell him herself. She gritted her teeth, tormented by her own thoughts. How could this be real? How could she have been so... So stupid? She raised a tense hand, ripping it harshly through her hair. Ellen had seen the report; Enemy action. She knew Jack had jotted it down to protect her. She knew it had been a misfire, uncontrolled. Still, all of this was her fault. Ellen felt a hot tear stream down her face and drop off her chin. It had been so long since she had cried. But now... Now she couldn’t stop. Her shoulders drew up tightly, her head falling into her hands. Crying with great heaves, great involuntary sobs. Right now, all she wanted to do was die. But that was too easy. How had she fired so low? She remembered the flare, the groan, how her insides rent apart as she realized what she had done. The look on Jack and Carry’s faces as they looked on, astonished. She strained in her chair, stiffening, clutching at her face, trying to breath, trying to pull herself together. But she couldn’t, she couldn’t do anything but collapse back into more sobs, sobs that emptied her further. What would his fiance think? Ellen had seen the beautiful blue-eyed girl about a thousand times in the picture her friend was eternally whipping out, he was so proud of her. Had she ruined that too? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry... How little that meant now. It had done nothing to help, nothing at all. Movement from the hospital bed startled her eyes open and made her head lift. A shiver of fear going through her as Caleb’s head rose a little from the pillow, his single eye turning toward her. He looked confused and childish, as if he had just been awakened from a deep and peaceful sleep. The part of his lips showing turned into a smile, pulling at the bandage as if tugging away from its other half. He made a little sound in his throat like the resigning kind made after a yawn. Ellen watched, feeling her heart pull, ready to burst at his oblivious good mood. Smiling? At her? How many more times would she get to see that? “Hello Ellie.” His voice folded over her like a gentle breeze over water. She wished he had slapped her instead. It would have been so much easier to take...

poetry BetrayedLisa Wallace, 10th grade, Dunedin public Library

I see him with another girl,I smell her fruity perfume in the air,

I hear my heart shattering,I feel nothing anymore,

I taste the bitterness of life,I think, why was I born?

–– 4 ––

poetry

Writer’s Blockemma Doyle, 9th grade,Seminole Community Library

Like a steel doorthat won’t unlock,I’m tormented bythis writer’s block!

“10 more minutes!”the teacher calls“What should Iwrite about apencil, a ball?”


“How about a dogor maybe a door?”“1 more minute!And no more!”


“Time is up! Putyour pencils away!”“Oh no! I’m notdone! What will she say?”


“Why is nothing onyour paper, 45 minutes is up?”“I couldn’t find atopic, my mind was stuck!”


“Well maybe youwill find an idea indetention.

You see this as mybest intention”“After school in myroom, till 5’o’clock”

Like a detentiondoor that won’t unlock,I’m tormented bythis writer’s block!

poetry Spirit of a FriendBrenna Garcia, 8th grade, St. petersburg public Library

pHotoGrApHyA Moose and Her Calf

Jacob Hehn, 8th grade, Gulf Beaches public Library

INk DrAWING Peace OfferingAmber Beatty, 10th grade, Largo public Library

When storm clouds wrapped around,devouring up my brain,You will be there, without a sound,to wipe away the pain.

You’ve been my friend,around the bendI know I will be true,

no matter what happens to me, or whathappens to you.

I can’t stay sad around you,though it sometimes drives me insane,for once you take up my problems too,My heart will be free again.

–– 5 ––

peNCIL DrAWING

Angel of TimeMina porto, 8th grade, Largo public Library

poetry The Ticking HandHannah Gomez, 9th grade, tarpon Springs public Library

poetry What’s That Sound?Caitlyn Burnitis, 11th grade, St. petersburg public Library

Boom, Boom, Boom is the sound of a drum and the beat and the Sound of my ears. Boom, Boom, Boom is the door to my heart and the One I love wanting desperately to come in.Boom Bang, Bang Boom and clap is the sound of a storm such a terrible storm, full of hurts and tears angers and fears from the ones I hold so dear.Boom…Boom…Boom… is the sound a fist of an angry child con-fused and hurt not knowing who to believe.Crying, “Lord help me for I fear I’m beginning to doubt you too. Slam, Slam, Slam is the sound of doors to every part of my heart closing never wanting to open again, “Cuz my heart says, “When I say goodbye, you say hello, please don’t go, but I do. I shut down and hide away so that no more hurt, no more pain can de-stroy what’s left of my dying heart. But wait…What’s that sound? Boom…Boom…Boom is the door of my heart and the One I love waiting to come in.“Dear Lord I play, dear Lord I pray please Father take this pain away. I admit my sin and the hurts caused by me, but fill me Jesus for I am empty. What’s that sound, such a beautiful sound coming from down yonder? It’s the sound of me singing happily for I have been found from my wonder

peNCIL DrAWING

The Downtown Metro ETR 200 BulletGregory Williams, 9th grade, pinellas park public Library

The Ticking HandTime drifts by like shifting sand,You see the clock,The ticking hand.

Life flies by as in a race,You try to stop,Lessen your pace.

Days go by, rocket past your grip,You grab a minute,But let it slip»

Time drifts by like shifting sand,You see the clock,The ticking hand.

There goes dreams, wishes...gone!You find your burden,Put it on.

Your feet cemented to the ground,Find your mouthCan’t make a sound.


Where’s your mark upon this earth?Your legacy?Your human worth?

Have you helped anyone in need?Or are you planted,Like a weed?


Life’s too short to moan and groan,So take a step

Out of your comfort zone.

Break the barrier, your precious wall,Leave your markBecause after all...


–– 6 ––

poetrySweet, Sweet Victory

Bobby St. Julien, 11th grade, palm Harbor public Library

All sharing one common goal.Each and every player has a role.Together we unite.Through thick and thin we must fight.

On game day nothing holds us back.We want to be the team holding the plaque.Everyone sticking together.We need to play tough and smooth like leather.

The game is almost over, we start to get antsy.Don’t want to be cocky or get fancy.The opponent is still fighting hard.But we know how to play their cards.

We start to celebrate,Because we’ve played so great.The excitement makes us restless,The other team seems defenseless.

The championship win feels so glorious.We have triumphed all and now are victorious.We did not cheat or use trickery,To give us the taste of sweet, sweet victory.

poetry LifeMorgen krauss Ingham, 11th grade,tarpon Springs public Library

Whispering, howling, crawling soundclicking, cranking, echoing aroundmoving, thinking, breathing groundto comprehend something so profound...

First, we must discard our hatethen, we must fight against fatethirdly, we must realizethat gold and jewels are not the prize.

What is the prize we seekwhen the river dries, the willows creakwhen waters disappear, and morewe are consumed by fear.....

What must be done, efficientlyis control our rapid fluiditykeep within us wisdomkeep within us emotionlose we must arrogancebreaking the repeating tranceof history or manwe then shall no longer have to fendfor this is not our end.

peNCIL DrAWING

Solaluk Bunny Ear Gesturekayla Massie, 9th grade, pinellas park public Library

peNCIL DrAWING

Giovanni Paolo II

Marie Daniela thurber, 10th grade, pinellas

park public Library

–– 7 ––

peNCIL DrAWINGJudas Lady Gaga

elizabeth Cynthia Salk, 11th grade, Largo public Library

pHotoGrApHy 804Dakotah Haas, 7th grade, pinellas park public Library

poetry But What?…Nicholas Gomez, 9th grade, tarpon Springs public Library

There I gazed at my paperPerfect and readySomething was missing, hidden in a blur...But what...?

My spelling was correctI had a title and a name

The paper wasn’t wrinkled and was treated with respectSomething was out of placeBut what...?

I realized it at the last momentI had forgotten to do itThe teacher came and snagged THIS paper‘This is something/’ she said...But what..?

It turn out this paper is an A+Thus proving anyone can make a poemAbout anything and any wayBut what...?

poetry

When PeopleMake Fun of You

emily B., 6th grade, Clearwater public Library

Some people say,When you have a flaw,

You are ugly in every way.If you have a scar,

You can not be pretty,And you are ugly by far.

Some scars are concealed,Some scars you can’t see.

Some scars are healed,But that is not me.

The pain that’s insideForever stays there,

And you cannot hide,

The pain that’s not fair.

When people make fun of you.

MOSAIC

–– 8 ––

poetry

Being a LifeguardZoe Stewart, 10th grade, Safety Harbor public Library

The early morning sun peeksdown at me, warming my cheeksI close my eyes and take it all inanother day at the beach has begun again

Friendly counselors greet us,being so eager to meet usWe strip to our suits and dive in

I feel the water hit my faceas we begin our morning raceThe waves crash against my chestbut I make the mark before the rest

Now it’s back to the shore once moreand my toes dig into the sandy floorI push myself further, striving for firstas we approach our next check pointI feel as if my lungs will burst

Our race is over, but we can’t stop thereNow we lie with our feet six inches in the airAn eternity passes until we start classes,earning our very own CPR passes

Take pride in being a lifeguard

pHotoGrApHy Daily RoutineMaia Watson, 12th grade, Safety Harbor public Library

poetry

The Questionrachel Bermann, 9th grade palm Harbor public Library

These words they flowThey haunt my mindThey twist they churnThey bubble and grind

They nag and nag‘til I can take no moreWhispering softlyAt my brain’s front door

They gatherThey raidThey poundThey invade

They creep in the shadowsAnd the corners of my mindAsking questions for answersThat no one can find

No one knows the answerTo the question I seekFor their own captures themCan’t resist ‘cause we’re weak

So we wander aroundBuzzing noise in our headsAll looking for somethingThough the answer we dread

These two little wordsSpeak of future and pastOf things that could have beenAnd things that still last

Looking back looking forwardFumbling aroundWe torture ourselves for reasonsunfound

The past we can’t changeWe just walk through our riffsAlways thinking aboutOur what’s and what ifs

–– 9 ––

You should all know that I have a very low self esteem. But who could blame me? When it’s hot to be Blond, makeup literally oozing from your pores, and chesty... I guess I’m just last place. Being ugly, pale, with coal black hair; I assumed that I would never fall in love with anyone ...that is... until I saw him.

He had scarlet hair and richly tanned skin. And his eyes ... his deep amber eyes seemed to sparkle as he seemingly floated down the streetand into my mind ... my dreams ... everything I could ever want. For me, just looking at him, my heart suddenly had the huge desire to bewith him. “But why would he want you really?” I mumbled. “Black hair, pale skin, bony, you’re like Snow White after being attacked by a vampire! You can probably tell I’m a little mental about my flaws to add to my low self esteem.

But to my ultimate surprise he looked at me. At me! And he smiled. Then for a moment he began to walk towards me. Me! I felt my whole body begin to shudder as he walked closer to me and closer. He was almost across the street... when my roommate (Cindy; the perfect 10) ran up to him in all her vapid glory. All of my dreams of true love shattered into thousands of glass shards piercing my heart. As Bubbly Cindy bounced up and down next to the boy of my dreams I couldn’t help but desire to burn Cindy with my eyes. But instead of flames I only felt salty tears cover my face. Quickly I ran back towards the thicker part of the forest and began to sob into the thin ice-covered grass.

I’ll die alone in the woods here with no one to love, no one to call my own, and no one to ever say “I love you”. I continued to sob in the ice until Ms. Drews (my instructor at school) searched me out and dragged me back to the Dorms.

During the night I woke from another horrid nightmare. I was still sobbing of course, and Cindy was in her bed literally dead silent. She may be beautiful but if I’m the ugly Snow White she may as well be Sleeping Beauty. I swear; not a single sound or movement can make her wake before she wants to. Not even the loud

thumping of a person pounding our window... Is it him? Please God; let it be him?

I cautiously peered outside. And for once God answered my prayers.

He was there and just as handsome as he was this afternoon only this time he was wearing all black and a helmet covers his vibrant red hair. His eyes held a red stinginess though... he’d been crying. He pounds the window again I could tell he was becoming impatient. So I quickly crank the ancient window apart until I could feel the icy breeze on my pale face. But instead of climbing inside he pulled me out thewindow. I didn’t even have time to react; he suddenly threw me over his shoulders and jumped off the roof. Right off the roof! Snow covered my eyes and all I could see was white. I tried to scream on the rush down but a red light covered my lips, my hand, and my eyes and then everything I saw was fiery red. Then it was all black.

The black faded away but the red still engulfed my body. I still can’t move though I thought the light must immobilize me so I couldn’t run away. Well O.M.G? Aren’t you a genius? Gushing over a cute boy and in the middle of the night he goes and kidnaps you! Why do all these horrible things happen to me?!? I continued to try and move even though I knew escape in this light was hopeless. I couldn’t just give up. I tried to see through the mildly transparent netting, I was in a forest on the ground, snow lightly fluttered down beside me but the redness also numbed me from the outside world too. Out of the red corner of my eye I saw the evil, handsome boy come back towards me. He squatted down next to me. “Sorry I had to kidnap you Vi. I had to get you out of the crap hole of a school but you were making it so hard to get close to you. So... I just took you with me on my way out of town.” He said it as though it was no big deal! You kidnapped me! And you followed me? How do you even know my name? And where are we anyways? He looked at me with those big amber glazed eyes and I almost got sucked into them again, until I remember he kidnapped me and is apparently some sort of witch thing who

can contain people in lights as red as his hair. His handsome hair... STOP IT! HE’S EVIL AND IS TRYING TO USE YOU! I still kind of have a problem with negative image and thinking.

While he was still lost in thought I hear a distant sound like thunderclaps piercing skin and loud tortured cries ring out soon after. Helooked towards the sound then picked me up and continued running “the hunt is starting; better get moving.” He almost laughs. How can someone laugh at a time like this!?! As he ran on I could see our hunters; they had strange metal tubes at hand and even more smaller tubes strapped to there chests. Guns. Really old-fashion guns... the hunters began to yell at us through the hallow trees “Hey carrot -top! Bring your girlfriend eh?”A wail of guns up roared the other taunts they used and soon I felt sharp stings in my back the boy crumbled onto the ground. I rolled off his back into the snow the red light finally freed me but now I was in too much pain to move or try to escape. Out of the frying pan and into the fire wow this is a stupid way to die! Indeed blackness began to edge the side of my eyes. I could see my blood and the boy’s blood mingling with the white snow. I closed my eyes and tried to let the world take my spirit away from the hunters..., the red lights..., and the boy. The boy? I never even found out his name? How did he find out my name? Why did he take me? Is Cindy ok? Why did those hunters hunt us? Why must I die with such regret? I was so confused...

Across from me I could hear him mumble my name over and over

“Vi.Vi.Vi...”

I mumbled back “Please... what’s your name?”

“My name is Cody...” He sputtered, blood drips out of his mouth and into his scarlet hair.

“Cody...”

Skin white as snow, hair black asnight, lips red as blood. You shall

never wake again.

SHort Story Snow White . . .emma Doyle, 9th grade, Seminole Community Library


MOSAICTEEN COUNTYWIDE PUBLICATION


A Publication of

Clearwater Public Library System100 N. Osceola Avenue

Clearwater, FL 33755(727) 562-4970

Dunedin Public Library223 Douglas AvenueDunedin, FL 34698

(727) 298-3080

East Lake Community Library4125 East Lake Road

Palm Harbor, FL 34685(727) 773-2665

Gulf Beaches Public Library200 Municipal Drive

Madeira Beach, FL 33708(727) 391-2828

Gulfport Public Library5501 - 28th Avenue S.

Gulfport, FL 33707(727) 893-1074

Largo Public Library120 Central Park Drive

Largo, FL 33771(727) 587-6715

Oldsmar Public Library400 St. Petersburg Dr. E.

Oldsmar, FL 34677(813) 749-1178

Palm Harbor Public Library2330 Nebraska AvenuePalm Harbor, FL 34683

(727) 784-3332

Pinellas Park Public Library7770 - 52nd Street

Pinellas Park, FL 33781(727) 541-0718

Safety Harbor Public Library101 Second Street N.

Safety Harbor, FL 34695(727) 724-1525

St. Pete Beach Public Library365 - 73rd Avenue

St. Pete Beach, FL 33706(727) 363-9238

St. Petersburg Public Library System280 - 5th Street North

St. Petersburg, FL 33701(727) 893-7318

Seminole Community Library9200 - 113th Street North

Seminole, FL 33772(727) 394-6905

Tarpon Springs Public Library138 E. Lemon Street

Tarpon Springs, FL 34689(727) 943-4922

Member Libraries

Documents

TEEN COUNTYWIDE PUBLICATION - Pinellas … my heart and the One I love waiting to come in. “Dear Lord I play, dear Lord I pray please Father take this pain away. I admit my sin and