When Two Worlds Collide By Jessy Shiroma Moanalua High School ...

When Two Worlds Collide
By Jessy Shiroma
Moanalua High School, 9 th Grade
Sarah, a shy blond girl with pale blue eyes,
Started third grade at a new school, in a new state;
No friends,
No familiar faces.
She sat alone at lunch, and grew used to being ignored,
And watched the other children return arms linked, laughing, from recess.
Wishing she was back in Washington,
Wishing her mother was still with them.
She wished she wasn’t so new, so different.
________________________________________
On a cool, breezy afternoon,
A man brings in a tired mother dog and a handful of month- old pups.
“I can’t afford to keep them anymore,” he sighed sadly.
Reluctantly, he handed the cage over and left the shelter quickly.
He could only pray each dog would get a better future
Than he could’ve provided.
As he wished, each dog is adopted.
Each gets a new home, a new family, a new life.
Each dog, except one.
The runt of the litter is weak.
He’s undernourished, small, and lonely.
Visitors pass him, people overlook him,
And head toward the mewing kittens,
Or to the friendly purebreds.
__________________________________________________________
One Saturday morning,
Her father was sipping his usual black coffee,
And reading the paper.
The animal shelter posted an ad,
Encouraging people to adopt a new family member.
He drove Sarah to visit, believing a friend is what she needs.
Sarah followed, and passed each cage slowly,
Shaking her head at each excited, barking dog.
One dog was too shy to say hello.
He cowered in his own shadow,
Burrowing his tiny body against the wall.
A smile spread slowly across her face,
He’s like me, she thought, He’s different.
Soon, the dog was in her arms;
Safe, sound and happy.
She kissed it as it fell asleep,

Both delighted with their new friend.
Sarah named her dog Sunny.
Sunny is Sarah’s best friend.
And Sarah is his.
They chase butterflies together on weekends,
And watch clouds, basking in the sun, until they fall asleep.
Sunny greets Sarah with kisses,
When she returns happily from school.
And every night, they both pray together;
They thank God that they met each other.
Because they realize their paths wouldn’t have crossed,
And their lives wouldn’t have been changed,
If Sunny wasn’t allowed a second chance in a shelter;
And Sarah didn’t believe in looking there for a friend.

Humane Haiku
By Joshua Petersen
Stevenson Middle School, 6 th Grade
A poor sickly man
A good happy dog
A changed human being

itty-Bitty Little Kitty
By Aaron Lee
Stevenson Middle School, 6 th Grade
I’m a small and tiny kitty,
Who lives in a crowded city.
I live at a shelter and I wait with dear hope,
That I may leave this place and never mope.
I wish for a person,
One who is nice,
Someone who needs me to chase all the mice.
She’d be tender and loving,
And treat me with care.
And comfort me with warmth,
Cause I easily scare.
She’d stroke my ears and tickle my tummy,
In a nice soft spot that’s very sunny.
She’d hold me and cuddle me,
With love and delight,
Then she’d put me to bed,
And say goodnight.
Oh where, oh where is my darling pretty,
Who will make me the happiest kitty

Humane Haiku
By Joshua Petersen
Stevenson Middle School, 6 th Grade
Humane head quarters
A poor abused dog goes in
A loved dog comes out

What you want them to know.
Some grow to be show dogs,
The prettiest little things,
Strutting their stuff,
In the show ring.
Then there are those,
Who are brave at heart,
Taught to fight crime,
Right from the start.
Also,there are some,
Who lead the blind,
Then there are those,
Who search and find.
Some are kept,
To be good company,
Others are there,
To guard your family.
But what about the others,
Who have no home at all,
Abused,abandoned,starved and killed,
Some barley to crawl.
(Untitled)
By Joseph Kakalia
Stevenson Middle School, 6 th Grade

That is why we ask you,
To spay or neuter your pet,
They will live a longer life,
Just go and ask your vet.