and nature lives

and the waters create pools of mercury’s tears
and the grass launches colors from its snakelike roots
and the winds cut slices through broken trees
and the clouds form lakes in the orange sky
and the trees sing loud for all to breathe
and the sun bursts warmth from its molten heart
and the moon fires light at the tired wood
and the rocks burn diamonds in their lonely core
and the people take no interest

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Christopher Schlaepfer
Bellevue, Washington
Lakeside Middle School
Teacher: Alicia Hokanson