A Penny for an Idea

By: Alicia Agnew

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2013

A penny for my thoughts you say,

I think they’re worth much more.

For ideas have been the start of wars,

The middle of nations, and often,

The end of someone’s existence.

Ideas are powerful, Ideas are bright,

And some have led souls to the light.

Ideas follow no laws of mankind

But instead jump around inside of our minds.

What are they made of? Can they be seen?

Or are they some sort of fancy solar beam?

They come and they go and they flit around

But like to stay just out of grasp

When you’re fumbling for an answer fast.

They morph with the times or hide in old books,

And some die young while still unheard.

They’re stuffed into our mind’s crannies and nooks

As we file away the new ones we’ve learned.

So if you need my idea, you’ll pay quite a lot

For they’re worth millions, and dollars at that.

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.