This is taken from "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 2"

No Matter What Happens

I remember a time when each day was long,
When the world was a playground and my life was a song,
And I fluttered yhrough years with barely a care,
ignoring the future and what waited there.

School was intriguing and filled with delights.
I played away daytimes and dreamed away nights.
my parents assured me I had nothing to fear,
And that no matter what happened, they'd always be there.

Little I knew of a world outside home,
Where tragedy, sorrow and murder could roam.
All I saw were blue skies, rainbows and stars.
I looked past destruction of buildings and cars.

As a child, my biggest concern was just me;
I had to be happy, I had to be free.
And if I was content, I would not shed a tear,
And no matter what happened, I still would be here.

But as I grow up, drakness starts to set in;
My bright world has turned into concret and tin.
I now see the violence I looked past before;
My friends start to die and my heart hits the floor.

Deadly disease claim the people I love,
There are landfills below me, pollution above.
I often think back to when life was a game.
But no matter what happens, it can't be the same.

There are days when I just want to break down and howl,
To give up completely, to throw in the towel,
But I hold my head high and I push my way through.
I have too much to give and so much to do.

And I make a vow that, though it'll be hard,
I'll go on with a smile and play every card.
I'll give all I can, help others and love.
No matter what happens, life will bloom again,
And the strength I don't have will come from above.

So come, take my hand, and through darkness we will
sail-
If we all join together, we never can fail.
We'll remember to care, remember to feel,
And no matter what happens, our world we will heal.

Alison Mary Forbes
Submitted by Barry Weber


Unknown "back stabber" Loving - 16 years, 8 months, 28 days ago

Printed in " Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 2"

Remember Me?

My name is Gossip.
I have no respect for justice.
I maime without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning, malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.

My victims are helpless. They cannot protect them-
selvesagainst me because I have no name and no face.
To trak me down is impossible. The harder you try, the
more elusive I become.

I am nobody's friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and wreck marriages. I ruin
careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indi-
gestion. I spawn suspicion and generate grief. I make inno-
cent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses.
I am called GOSSIP. Office gossip-Shop gossip-Party
gossip-Telephone gossip. I make headlines and
headachs. REMEMBER, before you repeat a story, ask
yourself:is it true? Is it fair? Isit necessary?? If not, do not
repeat it. KEEP QUIET.
GREAT minds discuss ideas....Average minds discuss
events....Shallow minds discuss people....Which are you?

Ann Landers
Submitted by Amanda Kurlan

Unknown "back stabber" Loving - 16 years, 8 months, 28 days ago

This is taken from "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 2" It was origanally for a "Peer Counselling Workbook"

MYSELF

I have to live with myself, and so
i want to be fit for myself to know
I want to be able as days go by
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,
And hate myself for things I have done.
I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself, as I come and go,
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of man I really am;
I don't want to dress myself up in sham.
I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve allman's respect;
And here in the struggle for fame and wealth,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know
That I am a bluffer, an empty show.
I can never hide myself from me:
I see what others my never see,
I know what others may never know;
I never can fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and guilt-free.
Unknown "back stabber" Loving - 16 years, 8 months, 28 days ago