Two winners announced for Plains Red Ribbon Poetry Contest

“Cold turkey” (Is in the fridge)

By

Jake Lile

A crackling fire makes my kind of “smoke”

That stuff bubbly like Pepsi is my favorite “coke”

“Are we there yet’s and rest stops make my perfect “trip”

And when I “Chew” all you’ll find is gum in my lip

The only “buzz” I ever got was a haircut from dad

“Cutting” myself? Well my hand-eye’s kind of bad

I’ve “gone downhill fast,” but just on a sled

My brother got “stoned” once (bounced a rock off his head)

The “pot” that I have, I use to hold flowers

The only “slate” that we own is lining our showers

“Crack” to me is something you try not to see

And “wasted” sounds like nothing that I’d want to be

I’ve been “high” many times, but silly me I fall down

The most “inappropriate” thing that I’ve worn is a frown

The only thing that I’ve “banged” has been my head on the door

And I “pass out” assignment, not drunk on the floor

If I ever am “tripping” it’s usually on rock

All I hide from my family are the good pairs of socks

When I ask for some “juice,” I expect cherry or grape

I throw up when I’m sick, not out of shape

I admit I “snorted” once (I laughed a little too hard)

And I have tons of “weed”! That I pulled in our yard

Yes I get “tipsy,” if I ride the Gravitron twice

And I have a “dependency”…on my mother’s advice

Now go ahead and ask me if at all I feel cheated

That the life that I’ve led has something else needed

Because every second I’ve found to be nothing but grand!

Without drugs in my mind, mouth, blood or my hand.

Outcomes

Jena Peterson

11th grade

It’s not the person, it’s the substance.

Once you start, you can’t stop.

The addiction keeps pulling, scratching, and grabbing you.

The doctor tells you to stop.

You don’t know who you are anymore.

The monster is slowly crawling out of you.

It’s not the person, it’s the substance.

You want to stop.

Everything in you knows you need to stop.

Like a boomerang you keep coming back to it.

Look in the mirror.

Do you recognize who you see?

It’s not the person, it’s the substance.

Build up the courage to fight your monster.

Nobody said it would be easy.

Nobody said you had to fight alone.

I’ve said this once, but I will say it again.

It’s not the person, it’s the substance.