Shealynn - Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Sitting on the dock, facing the Northern Lights,

The lake is quiet, dark only with the glow of the moon

Yet it mirrors that dusty starry Milky Way night,

Complete with the Big and Little Dippers, those silvery spoons.


One cannot hear the howl of the solar winds high in the sky

Nor the storm cells brewing in the Troposphere;

You can see the airplanes flying nigh and high

Along the jet streams that rush through the Stratosphere.


Counting the shooting stars racing in the Mesosphere

Brilliant white light with a streaming tail

Only to blink and see it disappear

A sight only an eclipse or Halley’s Comet could pale.


Satellites floating by and rockets speeding to a distant place,

Overwhelming thoughts of other worlds in the universe prevail

Something that could cause a look of fear on one’s face

But you only remain calm and deeply inhale.


I look over and give you a questioning stare,

All the while knowing there’s an unsaid feeling in the air.


Shealynn, age 16

Matty - Atmosphere

Ah yes, this peculiar atmosphere
this sound I can't quite hear
the words that are almost there,
                          on the tip, the very edge of my tongue and as
far as I reach I can't quite seem to get them
Oh I'm quite aware
Of the atmosphere.
Of it's stars, and suns, and lights
Of it's long history, of it's forever knowledge, of it's eternal fights


Yep, it's all out there
Right there in-between: the nothing and the everything
The things that were, was, will be
                          could be, could not be, will never be
Ah yes, this peculiar atmosphere


Matty, age 16

Jackie - Atmosphere

Atmosphere,
oh Atmosphere.
How amazingly you breath take one
By you wit, your pose,
Your mystery and your importance.
Although, to those you bring fear.
Due to the mystery of you,
One might now know how to confront you,
Leaving you to be assumed as
Intimidating.

Jackie, age 16

Julia - Atmosphere

Christmas atmosphere
Running through the white snow
Spotting a red nosed reindeer
Seeing mommy kissing Santa Claus
Jammin' out to some holiday bells
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
Watching grandma getting run over by a reindeer
Waiting for Santa Claus to come to town
Experiencing a silent night
It sure is the most wonderful time of the year


Julia, age 15

Catie - There's a Feeling in the Air...

A time of joy and togetherness

There’s a feeling in the air of magic with mistletoe and holly hanging above

Movies watched during the Holidays

Ornaments hung on the tree while dancing around to Christmas music with antler ears or a Santa hat on

Shopping in stores decked out in Christmas lights and decorations on a chilly night before coming home to sit by the fireplace with hot chocolate

Presents underneath the tree

Home for the holidays with the ones you love

Everyone gathered around to have eggnog and celebrate the Holiday season

Remembering past holidays and traditions while making gingerbread houses and snowflakes

Each stocking filled to the top with treats and candy canes

Catie, age 15

Caroline - There's a Feeling in the Air...

A feeling of Thanksgiving

There’s a feeling in the air
A feeling of thankfulness
A time to give thanks
A feeling of celebration
A time to celebrate
A feeling of feast
A time to eat
A feeling of family
A time to love
A feeling a blessings
A time to be blessed
A feeling of tradition
A time to reunite
There’s a feeling in the air

Caroline, age 15

Emily - Atmosphere

In October
When the leaves are yellow and brown
And there is the slightest chill
But the weather is fickle
When the children parade around in their guises
They wish for the cover of eerie darkness
To show that they are brave

But the darkness of October is never sacred
Because in the trees there are lights of red and green
Luring the children to thoughts of wealth
Away from bravery or cowardice
Of trickery or fun

In November
When there is a bounty of food and friends
And a wintery breeze licks the face
And blow a soaring football slightly askew
The youths give thanks for their health
As they stretch their arms to catch that elusive ball
But it falls to the ground a distance away and they find themselves wanting

Because in every shop window is displayed the latest and greatest
And they become want of these things
Because in their great time of unknowing
They can trust something shiny and new to give them value that they can see
And hold, and touch

In December
When people in the North prepare for snow
And people in the South brace themselves against a wet wind
There is an atmosphere of friendly unfriendliness
Among merchants and patrons
Because everyone is trying to get somewhere
And the man rushes home, his arms full of brightly colored bags and boxes

And among all the weary decorations that he has seen every day for months
He feels numb and tired
And every shop window is demanding something of him
So that he will drag himself to his home depleted
And he is tired of hearing the bells toll for nothing
Because they have given him false hope one time too many

But when that man is in his house

Sitting among his family in the soft light of a browning tree
And everything smells of sugar and mint
When the bright paper is torn away
And thrown into a heap in the corner
Here, there is the true celebration
the true hope

Emily, age 15

Bizzy - Atmosphere

That Feeling in the Air

cold, seeping through skin

dryness, tearing up lips; Oh,

atmospheric change

Bizzy, age 17

Helene - Galileo's Adventure Part 1 - Atmosphere

Arms flailing through the thick air

Thick as molasses

Thick as thieves

Galileo Figaro is not fooled by the eagle in the pond

He is fooled by the soft twinkle of the tuba’s blow

As he runs past the fountain

He sees Eris holding his prize

He leaps over the pile of leaves

And stops short

There’s a feeling in the air

This is not what he thought it was

Helene, age 16

Grace - Atmosphere

It’s an atmosphere that comes from the feeling in the air 
The constant heat and humidity that makes your hair frizz,
It’s the over-powering of rich foods from all the unique restaurantsthat make your stomach full, but happy 
The upbeat music that is so loud your eyes will hurt butkeeps you moving on the dance floor or in the streets 
It’s the over-population that makes one feel claustrophobicyet makes you have fun 
Welcome to the New Orleans lively atmosphere.  



Grace, age 16

Liza - Atmosphere

Atmosphere

It’s that Friday again

Coffee and caffeine, open eyes – ready

Ready to grab ready to push ready to pull

Here comes the stampede

Wild animals looking for their pray in gray, red and green

Size small and medium and large

Confusion on the floor

“Clean up on aisle 4!”

Blood, death…

Darkness defeated by the not so much descending son

So early--what time is it?

TURKEY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liza, age 16

Caroline - There's a Feeling in the Air...

It is fall in New Orleans
And there is a feeling in the air
A strange, indecisive feeling
One day hot and humid,
One day cold and windy

But it is November
Shouldn’t it be cold?

Not here, not here.
That is how the weather is,
And how it will always be.
Deal with it. No complaining allowed.

Caroline, age 16

Ruthie - Atmosphere

Atmosphere

In winter, you can’t drink coffee because everything is too sweet, everything is sugarplums and marzipans and gingerbread and other three syllable candies. You can’t drink it during summer either, which is a time for lemonade and ice tea and peach cream flavored snowballs—which on general principle are all disgusting flavors to put in your coffee—and it’s impossible to drink anything in spring except tea. Autumn is perfect for coffee. I drank coffee for the first time in August of eighth grade, and it was black, and it was disgusting. Now I take mine with skim milk, and the color is the same as the leaves. New Orleans only has brown leaves; every time I travel over Thanksgiving my mom has a tendency of pointing out every single tree that is red or orange or yellow, which inevitably leads to my sister and I pointing out stop signs and warning signs and yield signs of similar colors. The leaves in New Orleans fall all at once, if they fall at all. You sound like a five year old eating chips when you step on them, and they get stuck in your shoes and drag along the ground, leaving behind a trail of dusty, coffee-colored flakes. 

Anonymous - Atmosphere

It’s that time of the year,
The time that brings joys and tears,
It’s the atmosphere all over town,
That gives life to all the kids around,
My favorite season of all,
With candy canes decorating the halls,
IT’S THE HAP-HAPPIEST SEASON OF ALL!

Anonymous, age 16

Leira - Atmosphere

In this air we breathe
There are gases
Not one
But many
Many gases
Not only in this air
But beneath our feet
And among the stars
And within our bones
And within everything
Scattered across this Universe
They make up all things
Living and Dead
All gases and elements
In the present
As seen in Humans
Carbon-based things
From gasseous stars now dead
Scattered by a Super-Nova
And now these gases
Dispersed by exploding suns
They make up our life
The stars
The planets
This planet called Earth
This ground we walk upon
These bones that support us
This air we breathe
This atmosphere

Leira, age 17

Holly - Atmosphere

ATMOSPHERE: A ten letter word with numerous meanings.

The atmosphere of New Orleans is filled with sounds, smells, words, and actions.

The sounds of New Orleans consist of everything from cheering and singing to

laughter and arguing over which Saints player is going to play his best in the upcoming

game.

Beignets, red beans and rice, simmering gumbo, and the breeze from the Mississippi

River mix to create the scent that is New Orleans.

The atmosphere of New Orleans would not be complete without locals constantly

saying the words: Saints, Who Dat, Mardi Gras, Gumbo, French Quarter, Jackson

Square, and "ya Mama and dem"

The key feature of New Orleans' unique atmosphere, however, is the everyday actions

of the locals. Whether its riding the street car down St. Charles, walking on the levee,

striking up a conversation with a total stranger, or tailgating in Champion Square, New

Orleans wouldn’t be complete without them.

The sounds, smells, words, and actions of New Orleans cannot be replicated anywhere

else.

New Orleans is unlike any other place in the world.

Holly, age 16

Megan - There's a Feeling in the Air...

There is a feeling in the air that things will get better

or that’s what I would like to believe.

From what I have heard about feelings

they are up to me, I can choose to feel certain things

but I feel nothing

but pain

but everything

mainly stress

The air is getting thicker, but transparent

just a lot of painkillers and unhappiness.

I wish there was more to say but you can feel the rest in the air.

Megan, age 16

Ashley - There's a Feeling in the Air...

When there’s a feeling in the air, you know, that one, when you’re all just standing there, and it’s
so….

quiet.

Too quiet. I don’t know what to say. No one is talking. Why isn’t anyone talking! So I start
rambling

on…

and on…

and on…

Until finally I realize that everyone is staring at me and I’ve said too much.

Um…. this is awkward.

Ashley, age 17

Sarah - There's a Feeling in the Air...

There’s that feeling in the air

When Christmas time appears

 Christmas trees tied to the top of cars,

Presents under the tree,

Christmas songs on 101.9,

The distinct smell of your Christmas tree from every room of the house,

The Christmas lights that fill the city,

Al Copeland’s decorations,

And your Christmas tree needles stuck to your feet

Sarah, age 16

Brittany - Atmosphere

The weather changes

The wind picks up

The leaves fall

The temperature drops

The whole mood of the atmosphere changes

Summer is gone, fall is rolling in and winter is on its way

Winter in New Orleans

No trace of snow, just blunt cold weather

Along the river you can feel the cold air rolling in

The wind picking up

The temperature dropping

Winter in New Orleans

Brittany, age 16

Megann - Atmosphere

somewhere out there
floating in the atmosphere
somewhere i'm there in the midst of nothing

somewhere, somewhere,
i'm defined by what isn't there
somewhere in the atmosphere

anywhere, anywhere
we all change and we all stay
anywhere, somewhere no one is the same

not here, not there
people watch us everywhere
anywhere, somewhere,
we're all here in the atmosphere

Megann, age 16

Ashley - Atmosphere

As the leaves begin to fall

And the plants begin to shrivel,
As the ground starts to harden
And the cold winds start to ripple,
As the bears begin to burrow
And the birds begin to flee,
There comes a feeling that comes over me.
This feeling is not cold or sad or told
It happens within and takes over one’s skin.
It fills the atmosphere and prepares us for a new year,
This annual fun has just begun.

Ashley, age 16

Elizabeth - Atmosphere

In the atompshere…..

There are lots of things

Planets

Stars

Sky

Clouds

Everything is there

Just floating

Not really doing anything

But still really important

 There’s a feeling that you are alone

But you’re not

You have other people

And animals

And plants

And everything else on the Earth

That is just the Earth, you are forgetting about

Everything else in the entire universe

So do not feel that you are alone

Even though there is loneliness in the air

For everything in the atmosphere

Feels that way too

Feeling useless

But still so incredibly important 

Elizabeth, age 16

Courtney - There's a Feeling in the Air...

there's a feeling in the air
that its winter time
that the cooking begins
that the lights go up
that Christmas in the oaks opens
the presents will be unwrapped
that families will gather
that coats will be worn
that toes will be cold
that its winter time
in New Orleans

Courtney, age 16

Victoria - Atmosphere

The blinding glare through the car windows.
The craterous sidewalks and broken-up streets.
The creaky houses that refuse to fall.
The weather that just can’t decide its mood:
The heat that sticks,
The not-so-cold freezing.

The familiar faces—
Constantly telling you it’s a small world. After all.
It still stands.
The culture. The food. The music. The people.
The talk—the ya’lls, the yats, and the who dats.

All reminding us that we are the statistical anomaly.
That proud little point that ventured from the clumps,
Forever in our little corner of the world.

In an atmosphere that we have made our own.

Victoria, age 17

Haley - There's a Feeling in the Air...

There’s a feeling in the air… It’s hard to describe.

Tension. Confusion. Longing.

So many different emotions going through my mind.

My heart is what I need to find.

I need to do what I think best.

So that you can come before all the rest. 

Haley, age 15

Annie - There's a Feeling in the Air...

There’s a feeling in the air

The sweaters and jeans,

The bond fires with friends,

The sipping hot chocolate by a warm fire,

The friends and family laughing together,

The love and joy,

The feeling of pure happiness,

There’s a feeling in the air of a perfect winter wonderland. 

Annie, age 16