Venom of Lethe

By Eric Heppner

She is the spider
that travels through
the shadows of people
standing still
she seeks to steal
their life away
and put off dreams
till another day

her victims wont scream
or kick or writhe
teh web is too soft
and her kiss so nice

the will sit blankly
with eyes ice cold
until slowly their muscles
turn from stones to mold

till the bones grow soft
and the fat is plenty
for that's when she'll come
to drink them empty

and still they'll sit gently
unaware that their life
is being crushed away
in apathy's vice

and as they stare upward
lethe's venom still soothing
their weak arms are tied down
never again to be moving

finally the spider reveals her head
showing the victims her full ugly name
which is lethargy
handmaiden to pain

Roller Coaster

By Eric Heppner

Tickety tock, go the rails before me
As the car climbs squeakily its well tread course
Heavy blow the bellows about my head
As all anticipate the summit ahead
The wind about goes silent
The air thins as echoes fade
The bellows hush their breath
And give a prayer of deliverance
Tick tock stops as the rail ends
As the car halts, the air goes dead
I revel in the majesty of all
Knowing to well I'll have to fall
Fall from the crest, dive into life
Scared of the twists and turns and strife
Here I sit at the top of the earth
Waiting for life to burst into earth

"Making the cut"
Eighth grader selected to represent U.S. in international volleyball competition

By Corey Friedman

NEW BERN, N.C.---Ashley Williams was not sure whether to be excited or nervous.
Williams was apprehensive when she attended a Nov. 17 meeting after learning she had been nominated to represent the United States in an international volleyball competition in Australia this summer.

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Originally published in the Jan. 26 Sun Journal.