The Voice of a Mother

By: Matthew L. Inniss

Louisiana State University, Class of 2014

Each story starts with a chuckle, to which we reply " Here we go again."

The characters, family members, whose names leave the tongue in a stream of remembrance. 

Distinct stories to each one belongs, as she does the family tree shuffle.

The stories undocumented, but saved for all time.

In her head for safe keeping, each family member on a shelf.

We love our Dear more than anyone could understand.

For we know her story book has opened when she starts with her line of laughter.

Leap of Faith

By: Stephanie Cruz

Tuskegee University, Class of 2012

Feeling like a hypocrite

Like I just shouldn’t fit

Let it just wash me over

Over they seem

To welcome me

Shining in

Like the breeze

Cold shoulders, cold stares

As if I wasn’t even there

Tell me why can this be?

Aren’t we meeting to praise

And love?

So I just digress

Trying to give my best

Please God I’m trying

Give me a sign

A divine signal

That I am doing right

I know you’re by my side

Don’t let the darkness

Envelope me

I am your soldier

I am carried on to you

Embrace me

Don’t let me fall

No single temptation

I will fight with predilection

Laugh they may

But I continue believing

Solely praising

Heavens to you

Interrupted

By: Lindsey Thomas

Louisiana State University, Class of 2012

He ambles toward the door

A picture of lazy confidence

Until you see his troubled eyes—

Kaleidascope images fenced.

I can’t seem to speak,

To swallow that selfish pride,

To tell him to STOP! WAIT!

We both bottle our hurt inside

Then: A phone call, a gasp,

Everything blurs,

Can’t move fast enough,

At only myself I curse.

Wringing hands, fervent prayers,

I shouldn’t have let him go!

Curves and bridges and curves,

Ice, sleet and snow…

Smell of sterile, of fear,

I can’t seem to stop the cold;

A muted television,

Stare blindly at magazines old

Why are they smiling?!

Don’t they know??

Why will the world not stop

Or even slow?

Minutes are years,

Every footstep is a drumbeat

Then the white coat enters—

We all rise from our seats.

There’s no need to speak

His red-rimmed eyes tell

Please, please wake me!

If it’s not a dream, it’s hell

Send me away, I won’t even breathe

Until he smiles again

Beauty is sarcasm, all colors gray

Without my love, my best friend

Every song, every scene

Memories crumple my soul

Maybe (just maybe) if I lay still long enough,

I will fade out, wake in his arms,

And again be whole.

2010

The Vet School Blues: Why not dance?

By: Emari Yokota

University of Florida, Class of 2013

All my life I have been dancing. What a feeling it is to have the weight of the world upon your soul with one song and realize the frivolity of life with another. My body thirsts for movement; my soul requires the deep reverberations of the bass shaking me to my inner essence. The call of rhythm like the pounding of my heart, begging me to abandon my brain for just three minutes of the day. Nothing matters but the music. My consciousness is abandoned, for now there is no use of it. I only need to let my energy to flow out of my chest, my finger tips, and my feet out into the atmosphere. Ah, the melody, throwing my body up and down and spiraling in a controlled anarchy. 

My solace, my escape, my rejuvenator, my love: Dance. 

Dreams Vs. Memories

By: Matthew Inniss

Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2014

Your thoughts have drifted into a state of blankness

The thought of yesterdays seem to have slipped into an unknown past.

But, every so often one of those thoughts appears for a short time,

As if to start us on an unbeaten path;

These constellations of the mind heart, and spirit

Creations of heaven, memories of a life of living,

What will I do, years from now?

What do I inspire within hearts, to reach for higher ground to find true destiny of which truth is spoken?

These words come to me as visions of rainbows and sunshine filled days, where children of perfection play amongst the clouds.

You gawk at these words only because you have yet to believe in yourself.

You think it not possible for man to be eternal, but I pray, tell that it is true that he is

Those of you who believe and dream, continue to run the race life will course.

Hold thy friends steady at thy side and no Tundra or Mountain will blind your sight of the true being within us all.

Save yourself pain, and let yourself be free.

Dreams have provided you with hope, and memories the ammunition to fight the battles that may come your way.

Arm thyself properly, and life will be yours.