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Raise Me Well

Alisha R., Kannapolis, NC

By Ebie K., Bolinas, CA

Dedicated to the Ninth Ward, New Orleans, LA
I am a house.
In my dying moments, my heaving-creaking, metal-wrenched-torn breaths, I was your house.
And I still am - look, there’s my foundation, hiding in shame beneath the blades of grass, and the water-warped remains of someone else’s house.
I tried, I tried, I tried to protect you, but I apologize, I couldn’t; I wasn’t strong enough.
Please, forgive me.
Break me down, and take my bones from the earth, throw me away.
I hurt underground, and I can’t stand the stench or the fear of disappointing you again.
So cart me away, to a place I’ll never return from, where I can be with the remnants of the other brightly colored houses that were swept away.
And set down a new me.
Build me tall and strong, so I will never, never fail you again.
So I can be a home again.
For you.
For us.

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Teen Ink is a national teen magazine, book and website featuring teen writing, information, art, photos, poetry, teen issues and more. All articles are written by teen authors who are students at schools. The monthly print magazine is appropriate for any teenager -- teenagers age 13 to 19 attending secondary school: junior high school, middle school and high school. This publication is used by professional people including English teachers, writing teachers, language arts instructors, journalism teachers, school newspaper advisors, librarians, guidance counselors, K-12 principals in addition to the PTA or PTO. Each issue of Teen Ink magazine contains a wide variety of student work: we publish nonfiction, fiction, poems, community service, sports, heroes, interviews, college essays, college reviews, book reviews, concert reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, video reviews, video game reviews, the environment, opinion, sports, pets, cars, automobiles, travel and culture, jobs and money, health issues, artwork, photographs, cartoons, short stories, essays, writing contests, a college directory and the website also has a bulletin board and resources for teens and educators. Subjects include racism, eating disorders, depression, death, suicide, family, relationships, jobs, grandparents, violence, the college process, college information, colleges, driving, self esteem, the arts, movies and more. Teen Ink is also a book series published by HCI Teens. Subjects covered in the book include Friends, Fitting In, Love, Challenges, Family, Heroes, Loss and Memories. Teen Ink was established in 1989 as The 21st Century magazine by The Young Authors Foundation, a nonprofit organization. More than 25,000 teens have been published in the magazine and its companion Poetry Journal. Teen Ink runs a London Summer Program for teenage writers.