More Than A Message
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
THIS THE BATTLE
by
Brendan DuVall
I wake up in the morning
and i wonder who I am
I do not know why this is happening;
I face a challenge every day.
Why does it have to be this way?
I'm in a cave and it's collapsing,
There's a bull in my way
And I have to face it.
I fight my way through.
I win the battle
But I lose the war.
The World Weeps
A sadness is wrought from spent shells
that litter the battle scorched earth.
Proclamations are sung of victory and dominance,
yet no one has or can win.
After thousands of years we
Have yet to realize this;
an angel’s tear has fallen upon us but we shouldered it away in denial.
We are walking down the path of exile,
unaware of our surroundings.
But a road mistaken can be corrected when
given a second chance.
Let us pray that we do not misuse it once more;
there’s almost nothing left to lose.
Trae Showers
Untitled
A soldier sets his rifle down, and removes his helmet.
He wipes the perspiration from his forehead and sighs.
This soldier is a sergeant, and he is in charge of a squad.
He looks up at the sky, and sighs.
Another man was killed under his command today.
First, he thinks of his wife back home.
He thinks not only of his wife, but also of his young boy, who is 7 years
old now.
He thinks of the way his son giggles with delight as he plays with his toys
in the dirt outside.
He thinks of the way his son’s hair feels against his lips when he kisses
him on the head.
He thinks of his son’s smile, and how it brings him to tears.
Then, he thinks of the dead man’s family.
He thinks of how that man will never be able to return home, and hold
his wife dearly in his arms.
He thinks of how that man will never be able to watch his son grow.
He’ll never teach him how to drive, never see him move on to high
school, never see him graduate, and never be able to say, “I love you my
son. I am proud of you.”
Jack Ruzicka
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About the Book
When we selected "More Than A Message" as the title for our book we were looking for something catchy that may inspire people to take a closer look. We did not realize that our chosen title may very well reveal the book's true purpose. We believe this collection of our poems, all written as part of a class in our sophomore curriculum, is a worthy contribution to the literary landscape. But it is more than that. There is a wisdom dwelling in the heart and soul of every young person, a wisdom our world needs in troubled times. We do not claim to have all the answers, but young people everywhere are asking the right questions. We invite you to read the poems a couple of times. Some of them belong with your finest collections, others may not be ready yet for prime time. But all of them are expressed from within the imagination of young people who have something very important to say. Perhaps you can find your own questions in the midst of these poems. Your reading, just as our writing, will contribute meaning to the world. And please remember, all proceeds from the sales of "MoreThan A Message" support the important work of our St. Vincent de Paul Society.
About the Author
The Southside Dragons are a group of talented Sophomores at St. Mary's High School on the South Side of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. We bring a mix of intellect and wisdom, a sense of humor and also some common sense. We see ourselves representing the voice that all young people can speak in times of trouble; a voice that can contribute meaning to our world.