Julianne Irvine 

Lakewood, CA, USA

I'm a seventeen-year-old poet from Southern California. I'm currently having a poem published in An Anthology of Eleventh-Grade Poetry. I'm very involved in drama at school and at church. I'm an honor student and have been presented with many academic awards. I run in my spare time in order to relieve the stress of everyday life. I love writing poetry because the paper lets me say what I feel, no matter how dull or confusing it is. It just accepts what I am willing to give and doesn't ask for anything more.

Where Is He?

Where is he?
Where is the man
whose mouth will send a shiver of desire down my spine
whose eyes burn with passion as mine do
whose arms can hold me, even when I resist
whose shoulders will bruise when I hit them in a rage
whose voice can coax me into doing anything he wants

Where is he?
Where is the man
that will cry on my shoulder
that will tell me his worries, hopes, and dreams
that I can take care of as he takes care of me
that I can read with just a look
that I will hold when he resists
that is mine, and mine only

Where is he?

Leave If You Must

I can't understand why but
Before you go let's make one last memory—
one last kiss . . . 
My aching gone in your arms
you safe from harm in mine
Lost in each other's embrace
Do you still want to leave?

I won't make you stay
Just look once more into my eyes to be sure . . . 
Do you see the passion?
Do you see the hurt?
Do you see the love?
Do you still want to leave?

No. 1