A collection of poems by Missoula International School students around the theme “Better Together”
Never Alone
by Bruce McCubbin, age 13
As they run through the forest
On a hidden path,
Never looking back,
The land of shrubs and grass,
The river flowing smoothly.
They run from the darkness within,
Always together, always strong,
Follow the hope of redemption,
The air on their warm faces.
The brothers will never stop,
Though they are chased out,
They are never alone,
In these peaceful woods.
Better Together
by Whitney Webber, age 13
Two heads are better than one,
The best things come in threes,
Things are better together.
It takes one to tell a joke
And one to laugh.
One to trek up the mountain and
One to be there at your side.
One person to fall and the other
To grab your hands and pull you up.
Two to dance under the moon.
Three to have a party.
Everything is better together.
It takes one to come up with a plan
And two to make it happen.
Three to saddle the horses and
Ride them through the tall grass.
One to paint the sun,
And one to watch the brush glide.
Dave Concave
by Liza Littig, 8th grade
I remember when we were younger and he
Would toss us into the lake,
Grill up burgers,
Slice ripe watermelon,
Pass the volleyball over the sagging net,
Laugh as the sun blazed.
I remember how he showed up,
Reeking of alcohol,
Eyes red,
Face sagged.
His concave stomach churned and
His long, weak fingers twitched.
I remember how he wanted to
Return to those lovely days,
To splash in the water,
Bike through woods but he
Couldn’t stay out of the bar.
“Walk through that door and you never get to see those girls again.”
The door shut wildly behind him.
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