Required For The FCAT | Teen Ink

Required For The FCAT

October 8, 2012
By AnthonyDavidHall PLATINUM, Valrico, Florida
AnthonyDavidHall PLATINUM, Valrico, Florida
23 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." - Oscar Wilde


What they don’t tell you in school
Is that the glare from a rocket isn’t red
It is white
The kind of white one only sees against black
It’s never mentioned that bombs don’t burst in the air
They detonate on contact
Shattering everything at the sight of impact
Collision is very necessary
Collusion is recommended
Nobody sees fit to say
That stars mark the presence of night
Not the absence of day
And that in the rubble
Men are stripped with burns
Like tigers in cages
Awaiting their turn to shine
To light the way to glory
It has never been taught
That flags are not captured
Merely relocated
Transported to someplace with a better vantage point
Away from the ramparts
Which only ever serve to obscure vision
The guns are spoken of
But not the sound of one’s operation
The execution of its purpose
Not the bang and flash of the barrel
The crunch of an adolescent skull meeting lead
There are no lessons on respect for the dead
Only pamphlets passed out with instructions for burial
Pictures of proper salutes
There exists no professor who instructs how to see
When the dull glow of dawn won’t suffice
Loyalty is expected, but never defined
The skills of soldiers identified, but never refined
In the midst of the war
When there’s more than just yourself to save
Nobody teaches you how to be free
Nobody teaches you how to be brave


The author's comments:
This one is dedicated to those I love who have been through war, both the kind with guns and the kind in our heads.

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This article has 5 comments.


on Nov. 6 2012 at 9:45 pm
TaylorWintry DIAMOND, Carrollton, Texas
72 articles 0 photos 860 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby." - Unknown

"The crunch of an adolescent skull meeting lead" That's my favorite line. It literally sent chills down my spine. You are an excellent writer! The mood was easily depicted: bitter, dark, and unfair. Amazing job!

on Nov. 5 2012 at 6:33 pm
ninjamuffin SILVER, Billings, Montana
5 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.&quot;<br /> Mother Teresa

Beautiful job, the rythm of the piece is so haunting and bitter and perfect for this topic.

on Oct. 26 2012 at 3:29 pm
AvianNudge SILVER, Chicago, Illinois
7 articles 0 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
― Ned Vizzini, It&#039;s Kind of a

Hey its me domogirl, idk if you remember me, the one that goes to Harvard. Umm I really like your article, I enjoyed, it.

on Oct. 24 2012 at 11:40 am
PoeticAsian BRONZE, Cordele, Georgia
4 articles 4 photos 4 comments
This is really good!!

on Oct. 22 2012 at 2:59 pm
angiechick526 BRONZE, Jeifoqnh4iqrf3n, Pennsylvania
4 articles 0 photos 9 comments
this so good ^_^