1 Nephi Chapter 8

Lehi dreamed another dream
A tree of life, the fruit does gleam
Lehi saw which sons would be saved
Laman and Lemuel remained depraved

An angel led Lehi through the dark
Lehi prayed, his faith the spark
"Mercy please, for I'm afraid
I will do as thou hast bade"

The angel led him to God's own fruit
A tree of life, with joy to pursuit
Lehi wanted his family to partake
He bade them come and not forsake

Laman and Lemuel refused to go
Though their family enjoyed it so
A rod of iron, a path appeared
It led to the tree, it was revered

A multitude was pressing on
And mists of darkness rose like smog
Some did pass this scary trial
Others were stuck, or left the aistle

A spacious building was the next task
Some who partook were ashamed, left with a mask
There were those who followed God's way
Others left, and mocked their stay

Some were drowned in rivers of sin
Others lost in darkness therein
When some heed the scornful words
They fell away in flocks and herds

Laman and Lemuel did cast away
Lehi feared that there they would stay
In sin to hearken not God's truth
Lehi exhorts, "change while in thy youth"

The Pain of Lost Love

Every moment that I can’t stop thinking

Time keeps moving and simply forges on

When I dive into my dreams believing
I regret when I awake, my dream is gone

When my sorrows seem to be non-ending
I must learn to look at my life anew
Facing the truth will teach me pretending
As I must present a mask, no tears in view

Caring for another gives me sorrow
I am wracked with the pain of losing love
Salty tears mark the path to tomorrow
Hoping for my dreams return from above

As I learn the complex pain of caring

I will hope for a lack of despairing

More Than Just A Box-Edited Version

I'm not a perfect little box
That some would organize
I'm more than fancy silver locks
Or ones you'd classify

More than klutzy, more than fun
I'm smart and shrewdly wise
Naive I'm not so quit your "hun"
Or face this smile's disguise

I'm forced to be Miss Goody good
So worry naught for me
A carbon copy piece of wood
Remaining til I'm free

There's more to me than just a smile
Or friendly fragile wave
Although I'm human all the while
I'll try to just "behave"

I yearn to be unique and new
Discover who I am
To learn when I myself is true
Help me through this jam

For I am not a perfect box
I'm more than what I seem
Though labeled with your typecast rocks
I will become my dream

More Than Just A Box

I'm not a perfect little box
The way that people organize
I'm more than just the basic locks
Blonde, brunette, whatever guise

I'm more than klutzy, more than fun
I'm not just smart and good two shoes
They think I'm good, they call me "hun"
A pretty smile, no bubbly snooze

I have to be all glad and good
So others worry naught for me
If I will stay as others would
I'll stay as others let me be

There's more to me than just a smile
And more than just a friendly wave
Yes, I am human, all the while
Yet I do try to just "behave"

I want to be someone that's new
I need to find just who I am
To learn when "I myself" is true
I must find me within this jam

For I am not a perfect box
And I am more than what I seem
So even if I'm tossed to rocks
I will fulfill my deeper dream

A/N This is just my first...attempt at writing on this subject. I think I'm going to write a few more on this topic, with different titles, styles, et cetera...but I would like to hear your opinions on this one too.

Dancing in the Snow

See a dance within the snow
Footsteps, imprints, melting go
Stretch your arms and reach out high
Hands outstretched to touch the sky

Follow steps without a beat
Whirling snow makes it complete
Though the snow may give you chills
Bundle up and feel the thrills

Up and down you see it fly
And you see the wind go by
Whirling, twirling, tricks on stage
See the glorious rampage

Snow is showy, snow is white
Dance with it both day and night
If you learn the dance of snow
Dancing through all life, you'll know.

I Am.....

I am everything and anything
I am a part of all of life
I am nature working forward
I am full of new beginnings
I am all untapped potential
I am growth of the unknowing
I am life that waits for learning
I am waiting for a body
I am hoping for a family
I am grateful for some loving
I am yearning for my parents
I am a child within my mom

Savior

There is no end to the love I give
For I give love that all may live
For I am one who will not care
If skin is dark or colors fair
My view won't change for young or old
I love them all, and I've been told
I hear their good, and all their bad
I've been with them when life was sad
And yet I care and love them all
I've helped them up when they would fall
If they would only trust in me
I'd take their burdens, set them free

Scars on the Heart

When those beloved have left
I feel myself bereft
Sadness looming on
As I wait for dawn
How long is good to wait?
Maybe it is by fate
To seperates us now
New path to take somehow
But still I'm feeling sad
For he had made me glad
With him I'd like to sing
Of joy, of everything
But now I feel a scar
My heart it seems to mar
For he has gone away
And I can only pray
That all will turn out right
For me and him tonight
And though there is a scar
I know where several are
Yet time will ever play
A song to end the day
Though tears will fall from eyes
It comes as no surprise
To know that he was loved
By us, by those above

Judging Others

For a second, take a look in a stranger's life
Peek inside, think a thought, maybe you'll see strife
Judgements made for simple glance are often wrong we see
Maybe we should step once back and look at what's called "me"

Walk a day in other shoes, look at up and down
You may find that you can see a greater look around
Appreciate the little things, see the good in all
Realize that life is good, knowing, standing tall

If you can appreciate the good in everyone
You must know there was a change, and everyone has won
There is change when you have learned to look against the light
Seeing more than meets the eye, looking past the blight

"Judge ye not, lest ye be judged" is what the scriptures say
It is true that others see much more than we each may
Looking back at us, ourselves, we find we don't see much
When we look through other's eyes, we see what we can't touch

When we look to shadows cast, we see the truth of us
Making it seem "rational" we try to make no fuss
Yet honesty is ruling in and we must choose a way
Choose to look for brighter dawn, or face ourselves today

Background Story:
I was reading the book "Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen when a phrase caught my eye. The main character stated something about how a person could take a minute, and look at someone's life. They wouldn't see the entire picture, they would only see a fragment. Thinking about this concept inspired me to write.

Peacemaker

As the days go by
I've seen it all before
But when I hear a cry
Someone is needing more

Somewhere something wrong
I feel it in my heart
Hurting far too long
I want to help some part

Peace I want to share
Listen-yes I will
I will show I care
Giving hearts to fill

Tell me all your pain
I will try to be
Someone for your gain
Who you need to see

If you need a word
Comfort for your care
Though you've never heard-
I am always there.

Background Story:
In English, we were all asked to write a journal entry about a lesson we learned as a child. I wrote about my first experience being a peacemaker. After I turned in my journal entry, I kept thinking about it, and I decided to write a poem on being a peacemaker.

Child at Heart

Around the room we spin around
Life is fun, no problems found
Dance and play
Sing away
Enjoy the moment found

Singing silly everywhere
Song will ever fill the air
Dance and play
Sing away
Enjoy song while it's there

Dizzy heads will soon set in
The song has ended-who will win?
Dance and play
Sing away
It doesn't matter who will win

Silliness won't come to a close
This happy day, it also shows
Dance and play
Sing away
Happiness is love for those

Love for those within our lives
Those who are there at all our times
Dance and play
Sing away
Friends within all our rhymes

Friends all bring us happiness
We will always sing and bless
Dance and play
Sing away
Love, and nothing less

Laughing, joyful, they're with you
No matter what, you know they're true
Dance and play
Sing away
They'll dance and sing with you

Trust your friends, they are there
No matter what, you know they care
Dance and play
Sing away
Cheer you up, no scare

Laugh a little, live your life
Though you know there will be strife
Dance and play
Sing away
Fun is there for every life

Background Story:
I started writing this because I wanted to write about being a little kid. I absolutely enjoy being a little kid. Sometimes life is too hard to be mature. I love being a little kid sometimes. When writing this, however, I ended up appreciating friends throughout my life at the same time. Even when we can let our childish selves out, we can always trust our friends.

Individual Worth

I can do it all, I can achive
No matter what life throws at me
Hope thriving through dark society
Worldliness changes what we believe

Even so, I'll try very hard
To remember my values and my worth
Worth I've held ever since my birth
It shows how society's marred

People just don't seem to remember
The worth of a virtuous woman
Beloved, inside so fun
More precious than rubies in December

Each of us are individual
Don't hide behind a mask
Be glad, be ready to ask
Then your heart will surely be full

Background Story:
I was sitting in a lesson about remembering individual worth, especially in society, and remembering the importance of who we are even though the world expects us to strive to be ever skinnier, always "prettier", instead of just being ourselves. This inspired me to write this poem about being individual, virtuous, and knowing our worth.

Hands

A child's hand does grasp it's mother
As the mother cries and smiles
Her baby born at last through pain
Yet worth each pain is found her son

A mother's hand does lift her child
Just a step, but soon one more
The child walks, and father smiles
Proud of his dear baby boy

A friendly hand is offered soon
As the child grows up tall
He must find his place in life
With the friends he meets and makes

A simple hand that offers love
Gently give to needing ones
He can save them from their pain
Feed them, clothe them, heal the wrongs

A loving hand does hold a ring
A simple love that hopes for "yes"
When it comes, relief is shown
A kiss to seal them to each other

A giving hand is offered now
To the wife who bears a child
Soon a miracle of life
Continuing the path of growth

A serving hand is always there
Leading, guiding, all through life
Once discovered, never leave
Righteous living brings them joy

A wringled hand does clasp another
Age is seen through change of skin
But with love the young holds old
A simple joy is sprung from here

A wrinkled hand that clasps another
The other's hand is smooth and white
In the lifetime of the former
Service, love and joy were shared

A dying hand is full of joy
For he knows the Lord is near
Waiting to embrace at last
Beloved child, son of God

The Savior's hand is always here
For all those who reach back out
He has cared for all of us
Loving brother to us all

All of us area simple hands
Serving God with all our hearts
Charity, and faith in him
Help us to return back home

All through life we see God's hands
Miracles to combat wrongs
When we serve we give love back
God will share our love with care

Background Story:
As I was holding my older adopted Grandma's hand, I looked down, and saw my hand, a young, unmarked hand, holding a wrinkled, aged hand. I thought for awhile about the image of it, and after my adopted Grandma had left to help with the presentation being presented, I started writing. I started with the stanzas about wrinkled hands, then I thought about other hands we see in life. The poem just started flowing onto the paper. I looked at it, and decided the stanzas were in the wrong order, so I re wrote the poem in the correct order. Later on, as I was looking back at what I had written, I felt like adding a little more. The last three stanzas were an inspired add-on that I feel fit with the rest of the poem.

Gossip

Why don't people want to share
All their thoughts all clean and bare?
What they think of just one thing
When their thoughts could changes bring?

Why can't people share a thought?
It could be forever sought
Just opinion of one?
Single person, knowing none

We should share the things we think
Honesty might cause a blink
Different as it seems to be
We should share the things we see

Don't go talk behind a back
They'll find out and won't give slack
When they see or hear you say
Something mean-bad in a way

Gossip spreads like wildfire
Maybe we can stop the ire
If we speak our minds out loud
Just be brave among the crowd

Background Story:
Gossip is just one of those things that bothers me. It is something that I have found myself a participant of, and I always find myself regretting talking about someone without their knowledge. Often, I find myself telling that person, "Hey I was talking about you. Just so you know." and it becomes all good. It becomes funny, not hurtful, or spiteful. I feel more honest when I talk to people to their face, or tell them later that I said something about them, if I have found myself talking about them. Honesty is important to me.

Senior Year

Day to day of senior year
Time to live without a fear
Stress and worry not allowed
We're the seniors-we are proud

Best examples, top of the chain
Almost done with all the strain
Homework, drama, almost done
On and on to something fun

On to dreams, discovery
Newer friends, and more to see
Independence, coming soon
Shining bright just like the moon

Glowing sphere of every night
Soon we'll all at once take flight
Yet there is so much to learn
Growing minds and hearts will burn

Yet until the end is near
Of our wild high school career
We must focus on all today
Learn and listen, hope and pray

So much new and so much old
All combined will soon unfold
Greater knowledge, happiness
As we learn, our lives will bless.

Background Story:
As a Senior in High School, I am terrified. I have no idea where I am going, what I am doing, or anything. Life is just plain scary. Yet as a senior in High School, I'm also supposed to be a lot of things. I'm supposed to be mature, an example. I don't have a clue what I'm supposed to be sometimes. I poured out all my uncertainties about being a senior into this poem. I'm clueless, unfortunately.