the bird on fire

The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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A Madman

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thebirdonfire.org returns to hosting student poetry, fiction, essays, op-ed pieces, graphic art, events, and various schoolyard shenanigans. We launch the new school year with a poem from blog staffer and poet, sophomore Leo Milmet.

 

By Leo Milmet

 

I wrote like a madman, hiding in the laundry room.

I ended the note with a smiley face.

Then, out of the house, and

Into the fire.

Note in pocket,

I walked him home from school.

“I love you. See you tomorrow.”

He hugged me to death, as if he knew….

I walked home, got the rope, and went into the garage.

The door opened and closed.

ERR ERRR ERRR ERRR

Then silence.

I took a drink. I tied the rope. And died.

They found me peaceful, relaxed, quiet, a

Smile on my face, just like in the note.

 

Editor: Bella Bier

some movies that i love and you might not but i don’t care because i love them with all my heart

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By Makena Behnke

 

some movies i like suck; some rule. it’s all a matter of opinion, okay? it’s summer, so instead of going outside and getting a tan, stay inside your little cave of a room and watch movies (most of these are on Netflix by the way). so, here we go.

  • The Craft. four girls experiment in the world of witchcraft. can they handle it, or do they go power mad? plus it has Skeet Ulrich soooo, yes.
  • Almost Famous. a 15-year-old kid goes on tour with a band in the 70s. as far as i know, this is the most realistic movie about band life on tour. also, a true story. love, peace, and joy, man.
  • 10 Things I Hate About You. despite what Leo says, it’s great. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger? yes! also, a modern interpretation of a Shakespeare play? yes! also, set in the 90s? yes! overall, yes.
  • Hush. the horrorest of horror. not really, but it’s still good. It involves a deaf girl who lives in the middle of the forest and a murderer. the girl’s cat’s name is my favorite thing; i’m not allowed to mention it on the blog, but trust me, it’s good.
  • Peter Pan–the 2003 one specifically. the very story of Peter Pan just makes me so happy, but the actors and the way it’s executed makes me love it more.
  • Scream. so darn good. a classic. it has Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox–my favorite 90s actors. truly one of my favorite movies ever.
  • Bring It On and Bring It On: All or Nothing. i was obsessed with this for a long period of time. i probably still can remember most of the cheers (and probably most of the script), but don’t ask me to cheer; i won’t.
  • 13 Going on 30. a movie everyone should watch. although a little chick-flicky, it’s great. can a magical birthday present fast forward through seventeen years? 
  • Kong: Skull Island. i haven’t seen any other giant monkey movies, but this was on the plane, and i couldn’t sleep on the plane. so far, i’m a fan of giant monkey movies. my last two eight-hour plane rides were good movie days.

 

Warning: some movies are Rated R, so beware.

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Ideas

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By Peter

 

Ideas.

They just swim

and swarm

as they spin

in my head packed

with too many thoughts,

bouncing and banging

off of each other,

and the walls.

Wall to wall,

moving so quickly

I risk being left behind.

They say,

“Use your head and catch up,”

but my head is leaving me behind.

I can’t keep up.

I can’t catch up.

I can’t get up.

All I can do is

stay up late.

Past eight.

Past nine.

Past ten.

Past eleven.

Surpassing 12.

Summiting 1.

Like starting over.

Looking back

as the night moves forward,

trying to start over.

I was too shy

that time at school;

I was too open

that other time at school;

I was loud

almost all the time.

But,

I only said the right things

one time.

If at all.

Should have listened

to Polonius,

but instead,

I gave voice to every idea.

Every fish,

churning,

waiting

to be heard.

 

Editor: Bella Bier

Utho

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By Gladis Canby

 

Hey.

It’s ok.

You’re ok.

You have to be ok.

You don’t realize

how many people

need you to be ok.

To be here.

To be with me.

Right now.

Take a deep breath.

Wake up.

Don’t do this.

Don’t walk away.

Don’t give up.

If you do,

I will forever stay here,

in this spot.

I will live in this moment,

and replay this scene

over and over–

again and again,

wondering

where I went wrong.

So please,

open your eyes.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Two Doors

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A pocket poem by Brennan Nick

 

Two doors–left and right,

Each in equal rank and light,

One was bad, though I couldn’t flee,

The other good, though I didn’t see.

Without this insight,

I chose the bad,

which did invite the tragedy I had.

Editor: Makena Behnke

Fear and Loathing

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By Leo Milmet

 

I’ve been called a liar.

A bit excessive.

A weak little weasel who has just gotta toughen up.

A cold-hearted young man with a face of stone.

A slave to my fears.

A bitter soul.

I’ve been asked “What the hell is wrong with you?” countless times.

I’ve been unfavorably compared to the accommodation-needing, annoying kid in the car who constantly asks “Are we there yet?”

I’ve been told, by well-intentioned people, “Mine is different. You wouldn’t have a problem with mine.”

 

 

All I said was,

“I’m afraid of dogs.”

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Whisper

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By Anne

 

She has a

bizarre

point of view.

An unusual

way of being.

They say she is

weird,

strange,

freakish.

She feels

unearthly.

She wishes she were

dreamlike.

One day

all of her

will be an illusion.

Editor: Makena Behnke

Contritum

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By Swan Weasley

 

A bird

who clipped its own wings

was lonely

because it couldn’t fly.

Whenever its ability to fly

began to return

it would clip its wings.

Again,

and again,

and again.

Whether or not it realized it.

 

Editor: Makena Behnke

Espejo

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By Renée

 

Our names

Are us.

They’re poetic in meaning.

Some common,

Some unique.

Sometimes we choose them;

Sometimes they’re chosen for us:

A family heirloom,

A memorial,

An aspiration,

An inspiration.

Our nicknames we give to those we know.

A name becomes beautiful when it belongs to someone we love.

We present ourselves through our names.

We are behind our signatures.

Us: complex and ever changing beings

Represented by our names.

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Exsterno

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By Ivana Crie

 

I am afraid of relationships.

Of love.

Of being dependant.

 

Of leaning on someone

who isn’t leaning back

because the moment they step away,

I am unsupported.

 

And when I crash,

the ground will shake;

tidal waves will form,

and my world will turn itself

inside out.

 

I am afraid of people like you,

who make it so easy to fall in love

and so hard to forget.

Editor: Claire Jenkins