Before | Teen Ink

Before

April 20, 2010
By Nora Sternlof SILVER, New London, Connecticut
Nora Sternlof SILVER, New London, Connecticut
6 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Daytimes we ran
through gilt grass and tawny sand.
It was all who could shout the loudest
and talk the fastest
so that their words collapsed
like dominos.
And they were the quickest to
lay down their cards
in a royal flush of their days before.
In the nights words came slower.
They dripped rich like honey from a spoon
and hung in the air like a foghorn from
across the ocean.
It was the time of the silent
and the still.
They were haloed in the half-light
the darkness smoothed their scabs and sunburns.
They were the cross-legged mystics
the silent ones.

We ran like our feet had caught fire
we hopped backwards and stepped sideways
to avoid reaching our destinations.
We lay long and expansive
and rose on the sides of our shoes
to make sure we would be seen.
We coiled in upon ourselves
to hide to listen
to secrets we were not meant to know.

We were childen for so long
a desert of upturned hourglasses.



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This article has 10 comments.


Ammaz SILVER said...
on May. 25 2010 at 11:13 am
Ammaz SILVER, Houston, Texas
7 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang but a whimper." - T.S. Eliot

wow. This is my favorite of your so far.

Jazzzy517 GOLD said...
on May. 12 2010 at 12:30 pm
Jazzzy517 GOLD, Meriden, Connecticut
17 articles 1 photo 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

this poem is so amazing. + its nice to see other ppl from CT on here! lol

Ramzan SILVER said...
on May. 11 2010 at 7:49 pm
Ramzan SILVER, Loveland, Ohio
8 articles 0 photos 29 comments
very good emotions with a lovely, home-y feel to it.

kmhicks BRONZE said...
on May. 10 2010 at 12:14 pm
kmhicks BRONZE, Dexter, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 5 comments
This is a very nice poem that makes you think about what you do.

Shahed GOLD said...
on May. 9 2010 at 3:00 pm
Shahed GOLD, Tulsa, Oklahoma
16 articles 2 photos 350 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;People are like tea bags, they don&#039;t realize their own strength until they&#039;re dropped in hot water &quot;<br /> &ldquo;People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.<br /> If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.&quot;

Line 5, made me read it all more than once, its amazing! I like how it rhymes! You're a talented writer! Check out my work, Ill appriacte it, and I think we have something in commen,. let me know what you think through your comments!

pameel SILVER said...
on May. 9 2010 at 12:16 pm
pameel SILVER, Boyne City, Michigan
9 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else. &quot; - Buddha

great, floods memories and emotions

on May. 9 2010 at 10:25 am
KelleySchorn SILVER, Fort Worth, Texas
8 articles 0 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
Whatever you are be a good one-some president i dont remember which<br /> procrastinaters unite!...tomorrow!!-matt<br /> i&#039;m F-U-L-LLLLL i think i can spellllll-allie =]

wow that was good

on May. 8 2010 at 1:05 pm
ThatOneWritingGirl PLATINUM, Greenwood Village, Colorado
21 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don&#039;t tell me the sky&#039;s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.<br /> Love Always. :)<br /> When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don&#039;t waste time and tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float.

This is really unique and I like it! It's really well written, and you're talented. Check out some of my work? Thanks! I give yours 5 stars! :)

on May. 8 2010 at 12:59 pm
jessica.cherish.conner GOLD, Elk Grove, California
11 articles 0 photos 87 comments
This is so different.

on May. 8 2010 at 9:52 am
perfected_11 SILVER, Cheverly, Maryland
5 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Negative thinking limits gods possibilities for us and for others.&quot;<br /> -Craig L

How i want to be a child again so bad! lol.. great poem

can u rate mine 2?

TeenInk.com/poetry/free_verse/article/199194/The-Way-I-Go/