Beloved

"Hurt and pain have come and stayed. I think of all thememories and those sweet days,

now it is time for you to rest

on the soft clouds of the sky.

Standing on top of the hills and mountains, full of glory waving to us aUgoodbye.

Stepping slow and at a steady pace, my heart is at ease knowing that

you are in a better place.••so soft, so gentle, so sweet,

was your charm and smarts just took a person's heart and soul, andcould sweep them off their feet.

Now only one side of my heart beats, just to think just the other daywe were together running the streets,

thinking it was going to be you and me forever.

I'm missing you more by the minute, but our !"elationship will never beforgotten or finished.

You know I loved to see you smile,

but we are going to be away from each other for awhile.

Until the day we meet up again, I'll keep you in my heart and

you will alwars be my best friend. I will love you always."

Your Loving Sister..•Shumekia Pettiford

--

pondering witfiin my deepest emotiona p£iue to sliove remorse, regret. ..to fiide tne memories you nave feft 6e1iind.

5ls I fay 6cul( wnere you nave feft meI sit ana converse witfi my tIiougfits'Wnat so Iiorri6fe lias ariven you away?Jtna feft me nere to finger 6ut only in my mind?

struggfing and recu/iingI s£ow[y pul[myselfup tIie Uu£der ofyestertfay'cause a fittfe 6it more time and effort is to 6esnatterea in your aismay.

Jt quest for power or a simpfer routefor tne patti is a flmg aistance. ..especiaf[y wnen camea 6y tne neart.

Jt£one and £ostI cannot carry on now or evertne past lias feft it scme[6eatings.

77iough tne woundeaneart continuesstraining ecuh tfayrevitalizea 6y tnega1£ons of tearscriea 6y ecuh night.

'Behindyou my woruierfu[sfuufowmaK!-ris wnere I am feft.Jt coUl, cme[side ofyOIL remains uncnangeaas you £ash tne woutufs (If my fieartana ravish upon my tears.

Jt twist offate.as a aisease causes you to arop your Mooay whip,ana feaves you for your own tearsto 6e ravisnea upon

Heather Dokur

5ls tne circfe continues. ..

rSREVER YSUNG

Forever young you go out into the land from which you came into my

lire. This harsh, but brittle world wasn't made ror our love to exist. Why is it

that our destinies keep us apart? Or, is it our destiny to be together in the

end? Could it be, that what breeches our hearts is the love we have ror each

other? Is itjust the distance? Do we truly love each other, or, can this be

some other vast reeling that our minds twist until we think it is love? Do we

really need each other? Well, I shall now let you leave, and Igive unto you the

memory ormy words. Keep me in your thoughts as I will keep you in mine,

as yougo, to the expanses orthe universe, where the younggrow old rorever

and the old die young in an instant.

William A. 8ardel

_ :.:!!A~ -.. - -- -_ _ 6,- - ---~~

.-.......;.Michelle Gembala

Summer School

Summer school's where I'll be

if I don't get a C.

I must pass this quarter,

I'm right on the passing border.

Betty Goheen

Anticipation

Everything has gone wrong.Nothing has gone right.

Oh when will this day end.Watching the clock,Waiting for the bell,

Feels like this day is never going to end.I can hear the clock tick.But yet there is no bell.

Out in the hall people passing byLaughing and smiling.

How my body itches of boredom.The class is getting anxious.

Watching the clock,Waiting for the bell,

Oh when will this day ever end.

Peggy laBeau

Larene Wassinger

By ERICA BROWNTHE FREEDOM I FEELSO FREE FROM IT ALL;

THE SOLOMNESS I RECEIVENO SOUND AT ALL.

ALL HAVE LEFT ME ALONE,

NO ONE AROUND TO BOTHER ME.PESTER ME CONSTANTLY;I FEEL GREAT ANXIETY

To BECOME WHAT I WISH,TO DO ALL I LOVEBECOME WHAT I AM;

AM DESTINED TO BECOMETHE PERSON I AM MEANT TO BE.THE HATE I FEE~To ONE AND ALL.THE FAKE SMILES THEY PUT ONTHINKING EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE;THEY KNOW NOTHING.THEY ARE PATHETIC.

THEY ARE WORTHLESS.THEY MEAN NOTHING,NOTHING TO ME,THEY COULD DIEJUST FADE AWAY,I WOU LD NOT CARE.My UFE HAS BEEN SPAREDWHILE THEY WHITHER,BLISTER, BURN AND PEEL AWAY.DIE AWAY.LEAVE MY LIFE ALONE.DESTROY YOUR OWN.SPARE WHAT UTILE

Is LEFT OF MINE.THE LITTLE YOU HAVE NOT DESTROYED ALREADY,WITH YOUR WORTHLESS LIES

YOUR ANGER AND DECEIT;DoES NOTHING BUT DESTROYTHE SOLEMNESS OF MY SOULTHE SORRY PETTY WAYS OF YOU,ARE SUCH PAINS,I'LL KILL IT TOO.You ARE SOULLESS.YOU UVE A UE.You HAVE NO MEANING TO UVING.You HAVE NO POINT IN LIFE.SO JUST FADE AWAYLIKE I HAVE SEEMEDTo DO TO YOU.

p

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oC

HYPOCRITEY

R

TI

/"

There is Hope

When you are sad

And you feel aloneRemember this-

There is hope!Hope is that candleThat burns within

Hope is always thereWhen nothing else is

Hope will always be thereTo help you through the dayHope wi II always comfort youLike a mother to her newbornHope is that voice inside

That tells you all is wellI guess Hope's not that littleAfter all!

.. •/

..II..

Magdalena Kolodziej

Mallory Bauer

Amanda Lukasik

Life in New York

As I slowly walk down the street,I see new faces I'd like to meet.Each had a very different face,With a life no one could ever retrace.

Then I saw a guy with blue hair,And a girl with green.I suddenly turned around and no one was there,There was now no one left to be seen.

Life in ew York is really great,We are truly here with love, not hate.With the assumption that we're all mean,We'd just like to say we're really keen.

The truth is ...

Don't judge us by what you've heard,Judge us by what you've personally seen.

Ruba Abu-AjamiehKarl Brown

-b..~r!

'-;..: ..~<~J .~

Magdalena Kolodziej

Like a flower in a field,I watch the days go by.

Like a flower on a cloudy day,Life slowly got darker.

Like a flower without water,My hopes began to fade.

Like a newly planted seed,My dreams began to grow.

Like a field full of flowers ,Life was muck more brighter.

Like a flower in the spring,Life was rainy, yet sunny.

Like a flower through all seasonsMy life was up and down.

Lauren Foster

N

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Cc::...

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I

1

HIDDEN TERROR

WHAT HIDDE TERROR KEEPS STACY AWAKE AT IGHT?IS IT THE WHIPS OF HER BACK THAT FILLS HER WITH FRIGHT?

WHAT HIDDE TERROR KEEPS LEO AWAKE AT IGHT?MAYBE IT'S HIS MOTHER SCREAMING "'YOU'RE HURTI GME!" AS HIS FATHER BEATS HER, IT'S PLA TO SEE.

WHAT HIDDE TERROR KEEPS SA DRA AWAKE AT IGHT?IS IT THE STRA GER DA GER I A SMALL URBA TO ?

WHERE DRUGS A D EEDLES LAY ARO D?

WHAT HIDDE TERROR KEEPS KEISHA AWAKE AT IGHT?IS IT HER FATHER'S F GERS GOI G UP A D DO HERDRESS? THE PAl I SIDE CA IT PUSH HER TO CO FESS.

WHAT HIDDE TERROR KEEPS RO AWAKE AT IGHT?IS IT THE OWLEDGE OF KILL G A FRIE D WITH A GWHE IT STARTED AS MISCHEVIOUS F

I K OW IT MAY BE HARD.YO R LIFE MAYBE FOREVER SCARRED.BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH TERROR I YO R HEARTS,YOU CA HEAL YOURSELF. J ST BE SMART.

ROBERTGREE

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Magdalena Kolodziej

THE REAPER

THE REAPER STANDING BY MY BED,WISHING I WAS DEAD.THE REAPER STANDING AT MY DOOR,WISHING I WAS NO MORE.THE REAPER STANDING BY MY WIFE,A FAIR-TRADE FOR MY LIFE?THE REAPER STANDING BY THE LIGHT,I'LL GO WITHOUT A FIGHT.HE SAID IT WAS THE PATH I CHOSE,No MORE LIFE MY BOOK IS CLOSED.

KRIs STUHLMILLER

BASKETBALL

MY LONG-LASTING LOVE FOR THE GAME IS UNSPEAKABLELIKE A TONGUELESS TRAINER TRYING TO TAME A LIO._.

IT IS UNREACHABLE.THE FEEL OF POWER WHEN I HAVE THE ROCK

IS LIKE A SURGE OF LIGHTENING, AS IF MY BLOCK IS HOT.

Kris Stuhlmiller

"

~

TOACLOUD

Who painted your white bursts of excitement, your huge, fluffy pillows?

Why do you come and go every day and sometimes get dark?

ature has composed me, spontaneously, uncontrollably, and has placed me

high in the sky where nobody can reach me. It is nature, I tell you, that

make· me leave and return and get steel gray when it is wet outside. 0,

quietly moving on, I return to you the sun, but don't be frightened when

the sun is gone again, for my children are following me.

Michelle Gembala

EMILY KENNEY

To: TJ, "Mv Baby"

I sit and think am \lJ(){)(jer why. Why did it happen? Why dX:l it happen to you?

Why did you have to die? We loved each other so much, why, why, why? NOI.V I sit

around and try not to cry, because I knOVJ you're still there to dry my eyes. We laughed,

we talked, and we walked. You smiled the most and I complained the most! lhat is why

we became such good of frierrls and your friendship will be in my heart Lmtil the end. But

I knOVJ that smile is going to stay for a while. Those pretty brcmn eyes will still shine so

bright and that hair will stay so straight. Your soft little kiss is what I'm going to miss that

we would sneak and it would always be complete. Your soft little harris, that I would hold,

locked with my hands. That blue jacket was your golden bracket. I will always remember

the pool, where you would act like a fooL I know you don't want me-to cry, but I can't

help it, I didn't want you to die. You have always been in my heart and soul and I will

never let that go. There has been so many tears and many fears, but why you? Why did

you have to die? People try to talk. but I jUst want to wane I can't accept the fact that you

had to go and leave me. I called you my baby and you will always be my baby. I knOl.V

we're going to see each other again and to me you're going to never end. He picked you

up and took you away, but it's better than a place like here to stay. That little cute face

can never be replaced. That little smile is going to stay for a while. That frown that you

gave like a clawn will never go down, but all I knOl.V is that you made me smile for a long,

long while. You're going to be gone for a little while, but please keep that smile. You

filled my whole day with joy, you little boy toy. I knOl.V we l1ave to say good-bye for a little

while, and yes, I promise I will keep my smile. I knOl.V you look dawn and watch me.

That's why I love you, because you try not to leave me. I watch, (listen, I wait, I look, I

sing, I dance, and just keep waiting for you to corne home. I know we will meet, so be

standing on your feet, when it's our time to meet.

Love you forever,

Michelle Watson

-Your "Freaky Felisha"

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Race

No one agrees with these feelings and theyThrow us aside,

Forcing us to be apart they just wonltLet it slide,

You can see the mist in are eyes when weWalk hand in hand,

As we deal with hate from thePrejudice man,

Our culors nut are feelings holdThe lead in this play,

Judging our character andActions everyday,

No one agrees with these feelingsSo they push us aside,

Leaving us behind with heartbreak becauseYour black and 11m white.

"It's what's on the inside that matters not the outside"

Kari Brown

,.

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Kristie Albright

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Peter Werner

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Tt"iumphClnt

De£lth opposes ukGood conmdicts ~d.

Hllte ~n vqnquish Love,Yet Joy Clln helll the Sad.

Wllr ~n conquer Pe£lce,But Hope rescues Despllir.Trellchety Clln llbolish Faith,Still iustice rules the Unfair.

Humllns hllve their instincts,And humllns hqve their drellms.Humllns have their knowledge,And their survivllI me£lns.

~OAU1g~4~

'I

We may destroy our morllls,And sometimes live uncouth,

But deep inside our human souls,We llll seek good llnd truth.

Kate Looby

I ' .' .

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Edgar Skeivys

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-

..

The e window never open

The e door will never clo e

The e feeling ne er go away

This pain never show

You hide it from your family

You hide it from your friend

You can not let anyone know

So you store it in your Benz

You try to be a soldier

You try not to cry

But you will break down when the time come

For you to ay good bye

So let your tear' fall down your cheek

And try to tay trong

Ju t remember the time that you hared

Time won"t be very long

Let out all of the tear

Let out all of the pain

If you keep it all to your elf

You will have nothing to gain

Remember the love

Remember the mile

Remember he i' there in your heart

And he will be there for a long while

He 'howed me 'omething special

He showed me how to love

He 'howed me how to Ii e my life

With him living up above

Love Always and ForeverJessica Clifford

"Cliffey"

Mike L.

Kevin RUdnick

HOW

How did I lose sight of you?What did I do?Why did you leave me out in the rain ?Causing me so much pain~

I did something I knew was right.But you decided to get out of my sight.You sent me spiraling into a hole of black.Vowing never to let me back.

Nothing I can sayWhy I feel this wayNothing I could doCould help you think things through.

We were so happy,At least I thought.But there is a lesson learnedand a lesson taught.

Some say love,it's like a riverdrowning the tender reedYou are the river, I as the reed.

We started out as a small seedGrowing each day into a large Oak TreeOne day the tree was slashed.And all that is left is ash.

So many days,Just wasted away.I haven't talked to youIn a very long time.

Just thought of youWhen I sa-N you with your new girlfriendIt tore me to piecesI thought that my life would there end.

One more notch in your belt.Another stitch for your shoeOne girl with out a life.One with out you.

Stacy Johnson

-

,

FlowerPeter Werner

'aybe it's just a flower,

'omposed of a petal or two.

>r maybe .it means something more,

iomething with a great deal of meaning to you.

~aybe it represents love,~

~ symbol of affection for each other.

Aaybe it represents equality,

·he way we treat one another.

Or maybe it represents justice,

The was something is not or is fair.

Maybe it doesn't mean anything,

Just a new decoration for your hair.

But to someone out there it is something.

Well maybe you don't even care,

But the explanation is somewhere,

Or maybe it's not even there.

Jennifer Siapa

Shari Barcebal

Love is love, as flowers are flowersLove is all around us, love is oursLove is brreat, love is b'TandLove sounds like the sweetest bandMy love pours out to you like sap from a fresh cut treeMy heart yearns for when your are always wlth meFor when I put that ring on your slender fingerMy love for you shall always lingerDuring our days together, my love will be trueMy every waking lIlulJu:nl will be spent thinking of youAs the years pass us by, I look in your eyeI see YOU are thinking only of II\.s I softly touch your hair, and remember days gone byI remember the days before you and I were oneAnd I am glad those dreary days are doneFor when we grow old and grayMy love for you shall never strayFor when we die and rise to paradise in the skyMy love shall stay with you for all eternity and never dieThis from my heart which never shall lie

Ed Janiszewski

When Dreams Fly

When dreams flyHigh above the sky,It is a wonder to seeFlying so free.

When dreams flyHigh above the sky,People win stop and stareTo see it soaring through the air.

When dreams flyHigh above the sky.It comes in a great while,But when it comes it will make you smile.

When dreams fly ...

Kimberly Magdangal

Magdalena Kolodziej

ALAN UNGURAIT

The Race of our Future

Everyone fears themThe way they dress,The way they talk

How it isolates them from all of usBut, they are only human.

I've seen them before"Poor people," I said

How tragic it was for their raceto be hated,

Especially since their lifeExpectancy is 18 years

Just look at how they huddle so close to each other.

Why can't people understandThat they are us too?Why can't they care?

For the race of the our futureThe race ofJuveniles.

Mai Wazwaz

Performing

I ee everyone staring blankly at us.We're all silent, not a sound nor movement.All at oncc, we melt down.The music starts; energy is Bowing throughout everyone.We're all cared, butyet all verye cited.Then the music stops.We leave the stage feeling like millionaires.We feel that we've done our best.But it really doesn't matter what we think.It's thejudges' decision on who was the best

ow it's time for the awards ceremony.This tells who was the best.Everyone is nervous, thinking that they want to win the bigtrophy.We all want to win, but only one group gets to win.When the names are being announced, everyone is scared.We don't know ifour name will be called for anything.We all pray, hope, and wish that we won.But when the last name is called and it's not our ,we're allupset.But what we've learned is that is doesn't matter ifwe getthe trophyIt's the experience that matters the most.It's how you think and know how YOU did.• •And that's how it feels to perform.

Beth Ribilmwskis

ntitled

Alone I sit and alone I will stayNo one to care - no one to askThe questions that are needed

I often wonder, what I amWhere I come from and how I continue

Alone I sit - with out the courageTo end what my family beganLife is hard and life is toughBut can easily be ended or so I thought-

I hate my life - I hate my familyMy alcoholic father - My abusive brotherMy submissive mother - My childish sistersMy accusing grandmother and my hounding aunts

My friends don't know me­My family doesn't know me­Even I don't know me-

I don't like me -Neither does anyone else-

My friends ignore me­My family does too -Why do the care what I do?

Life is meaningless - Life is toughI'd like to end mine - But that's not enough

Stefanie Jachimiak

Shari Barcebal

Contributors to REFLECTIONS

1999 - 2000

Ruba Abu-Ajamieh Magdalena Kolodziej

Kristie Albright Mike L.

Shari Barcebal Peggy LaBeau

William A. Bardel Kate Looby

Mallory Bauer Amanda Lukasik

Erica Brown Kim Magdangal

Kari Brown J.T. Molloy

Courtney Cinko Shumekia Pettiford

Jessica Clifford Melissa Pitcher

Linda Cox Beth Ribikawskis

Heather Dokur Kevin Rudnick

Lauren Foster Edgar Skeivys

Michelle Gembala Jennifer Slapa

Betty Goheen Carrie Stark

Angel Gonzalez Kris Stuhlmiller

Robert Green Alan Ungurait

Stefanie Jachimiak Larene Wassinger

Ed Janiszewski Michelle Watson

Stacy Johnson Mai Wazwaz

Emily Kenney Peter Werner

Due to space limitations we were unable to include everyone's

submis ion. Thank you for your interest and please keep writing!

1999-2000 Editors

REFLECTIONS 2000LITERARY MAGAZINE STAFF

Ruba Abu-AjamiehAmber BakerShanna ChristianLinda CoxJamie CzerwinskiKaniesha FryFaye GisselmanJackie HorbrookStefanie Jachimiak

Barbara MaaliAhlam RafatiLiz SchultzBosky SharmaJovante WhitakerAseel ZayedSuad Zayed

LITERARY MAGAZINE ADVISORSMrs. Chris Arpin Mrs. Debbie Sernus

ARTISTIC ADVISORSMs. Claudia Craemer Ms. Marie Curtis

Mrs. Pat Huss

COVER ARTISTSamantha Grossi

PrinciQillDr. Dan McAllister

H.L. RlCHARDS H.S.10601 S. CENTRAL

OAK LAWN, IL 60453

Activities DirectorMr. Rod Parker

-