Global Warming Ate My Homework by Lauren Dalton (beach read txt) 📕

and brightened the hearts of all the onlookers. They began to laugh along with the little boy as they went about tanning or flying their kites. So caught up in their joy, they failed to notice that the little boy was going out further and further into the ocean.
His laughter turned to screams of terror as the tide lifted him off his feet and pulled him out to sea. He kicked and splashed as the tide sucked him under, but to no avail. But what of the onlookers? Surely they would notice and save the little boy. Except, they didn’t notice. Not until it was too late.
Not until the little boy had stopped making sound completely. Not until the original source of their joy had vanished forever from sight. Not until they heard a mother’s sobs and screams as she tried desperately to beat the ocean into submission. Suddenly, all the joy of the day disappeared along with the little boy and all the onlookers went home with heavy hearts.

My Ultimate Fear

I am invisible.
Watch me disappear.
For I am facing my ultimate fear,
Of being taken by the men,
Forced to commit the greatest sin.
The gun is heavy in my hand.
The men give their cruel command.
I pull the trigger. Witness the gore.
Watch as the body falls to the floor.
He is dead, but so am I.
My soul is spent. I begin to cry.
He was the first, but not the last.
I'm a soldier now, ending life with a single blast.
I am invisible.
Watch me disappear.

(Dedicated to the children of the war torn country of Uganda.)


Solitude

Let me out
I have to escape from this world
The life I yearn for
Exists only in fading memories
And dreams of a rising sun

Although I'm trapped in this prison
I cling to hope
For the faint rhythm of
My footsteps on pavement
Lives within me still

Would you rescue me
From this world made of cages
If I didn't know the real you?
Nobody cares for the truth
Silently watching from the corners of padded chambers

A woman weeps
I cannot console her
From behind this glass
Yet, it is she that put me here
I grow weary of ironic sympathy

These are the eyes of a mad man
Turn away and forget
You ever noticed my torturous desolation
Someday you will instead
Look up at my soaring shadow in the clouds.


What I Want

I want him.

I want his hands on my skin
Gliding and exploring
Every curve and abnormality.

I want his lips on mine
Moving to a rhythm
Embedded in our hearts.

I want to wake beside him
Each morning
More in love than the morning before.

I want to know him
Every plane of his body
And every corner of his soul.

I want him.


All Alone Together

I slowly entered the clearing, not daring to look at the others around me. We were all together and yet each one of us was completely alone. A shiver ran down my spine, sending tiny vibrations throughout the rest of my body. All alone together, we waited.
When my entire body was frozen and my legs had began shaking uncontrollably, my muscles starting to fail me, the ceremony finally commenced. We were given an order, and all of us stepped forward, placing one foot after the other as we were directed. Moon light broke through the canopy of leaves above as we were told to halt and figures stepped forward from the shadows, one slightly in front of the rest, leading them.
He chanted under his breath, walking through us, studying us, as the others encircled us, insuring no chance of escape. There was no turning back now.
I could hear the mocking voice of the leader, laughing coldly at our weakening muscles, our pain. Suddenly, it was too much to bear. I had to get out… I had to get out… I had to get out now.
I tore off the robe they had given to me, smelling strongly of sweat and blood, and threw it to the dirt. A small cloud of dust rose from the impact and everyone around me watched the particles fall back to the ground in mute horror. My legs kicked into high gear as I carelessly flung myself through the crowd of misguided souls that just wanted to belong somewhere. Anywhere. But in that moment I concluded that if I was to either belong here or be an outcast, I would take the latter in a heartbeat. If I was to be alone forever, I would enjoy my isolation merely because of the fact that in that solitude, I would still have my self respect.
The lost souls paid me no mind as I pushed them aside, but the hands of the jailers clung to me, pulling me back as voices cried out. I struggled, kicked, screamed, and gave it every ounce of strength I could muster until something struck my head. A crack rang out and a shrill scream of pain pierced the night sky. The hands let go, but only to let me fall to the ground. Figures scattered as a thick, red substance blurred my vision, allowing me to see only a lone shadow, standing over me, laughing with that ice cold heart.
“Serves you right. Nobody escapes. Nobody.” The leader began to walk away, leaving me to bleed to death without remorse. I returned his harsh laughter and it stopped him in his tracks.
“But I have escaped!” I yelled, gritting my teeth against the pain as I rose.
“You will never bring me down!”
“Is that a challenge?” He replied, back still to me.
“No. That is a fact.” I said, wiping blood from my eyes just in time to see him turn and throw a punch. I dodged and swung, striking him square in the jaw and forcing him on his butt. The figures had started closing in again and I knew that they would kill me.
“We are going to bring you down. Hard.” The leader said, his voice dripping with malice as he was helped up by one of his followers.
“Then you’ll have to bring us down too!” A voice from the crowd yelled and then the mass of people all threw down their robes and charged.

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As we found our way back home, a strong wind blew against our backs, urging us on to a better tomorrow.

Here I Am

I had the perfect words for you.
Words that breathed simple sweetness
Like the sort from the candy sticks
In a pack of Fun Dip.
Words that breathed honesty and earnestness
Like the sort from a gut-wrenching monologue.
I had them
And they were for you.
But these words, like so many other things,
Were swept away by the terrible current
Of trying to solve chemical equations or the cubed root of "x"
Or wondering why Dickens had to be so
Extraordinary that I will never comprehend his level of writing.
So, here are these words instead.
Words of innocence, embarrassment, and shyness
And other words, that I will always
Always think of when I think of
You
But will be too insecure to risk speaking into existence.
Instead, I secure my heart to this paper,
In the faint hope that you will someday stumble upon it
And know without a doubt that it was always meant for
You.

Here are my words.
Here am I.

Imprint

Publication Date: 07-23-2009

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Dedicated to my parents because they will read this and have a heart attack.