stream of teen spirit

exercise #5 2010

I wish I was a neutron bomb for once I could go off
I wish I was a sacrifice but somehow still lived on
I wish I was a sentimental ornament you hung on
The Christmas tree I wish I was the star that went on top
I wish I was the evidence I wish I was the grounds
For 50 million hands upraised and open toward the sky

I wish I was a sailor with someone who waited for me
I wish I was as fortunate as fortunate as me
I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good
I wish I was the full moon shining off a Camaro's hood

I wish I was an alien at home behind the sun
I wish I was the souvenir you kept your house key on
I wish I was the pedal brake that you depended on
I wish I was the verb 'to trust' and never let you down

I wish I was a radio song, the one that you turned up
I wish...
I wish...


~ eddie vedder, pearl jam


YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO . . . .

i wish (exercise #5)

I wish I could still swim.

I wish I never gave it up.

I wish I could go back in time.

I wish I was younger, so I could swim.

I wish there wasn't an age limit.

Swimming to me was everything.  I enjoyed everything about it. I never wanted to get out of the water. Some would say I was a fish when it came to being in the water.  I could swim for hours and hours.  The best part was challenging our team mates to a race at practice.  It would help for when we swam against other teams.  I swam for four, maybe five years.  I could have swum for two more years but I gave it up for a girl.  This was the biggest mistake I ever made. If I could just go back in time;I would finish my swimming.  I had a dream of going to the Olympics, but as you can see, I never kept with my dream. I threw it down the drain and now I regret it.  I want to be able to swim again.  I want to feel the water against my body as I rush through it like there's something chasing me.

~ christina bennicoff, 20, (bellows falls, vt)

just a wish (exercise # 5)

I don't have a wish list, just a wish or two.  Only to see my family and to re - live the summer, or forget the summer, the whole 8th grade.  Yes, I see may family maybe once a year, but still,  I wish I could see them more and wish I could see my cousin again.  Just  one more hug and a  "I love you Cuz, stay safe".  To live 8th grade over would make me smile.  I would see my girl again.  I've known her forever, but to see her again would be amazing.  I don't see her no more.  She's gotta kid and I'm the God Father of the little girl.  I'm not gonna see her for a long time.  These are the only two wishes I have.

~ l. ramos, (bellows falls, vt)

i wish (exercise #5)

I have wanted all of my life to get to where I am today.  And now I am falling back into my old self, hating life and thinking I have no purpose.  I wish I could find my purpose and stop hiding in the shadows.  The shadows feel like sanctuary to me and at the same time, they feel like a nightmare.  When I'm hiding, I get to gather my thoughts.  Authority figures always expect respect, because they are adults.  But they never give respect.  You have to give respect to get it respect.  But when you try to explain that to them, they so  no, we are adults, we should automatically have your respect.  Or they use the stupid excuse that they are your elders and you should respect your elders.

~ jared l., 15, (townshend, vt)

i wish (exercise #5)

I wish I could find myself and feel free. But I'm lost and trying to find my way home.

I can't find my way home. I am lost in a sea of darkness - fighting for my rights:

Fighting the government laws, trying to stay out of Juvey.  I will stay here. Finding my peers. Stay the same, kicking ass and taking names.

If you don't fight for your rights, you will always be kicked around and be bullied.  You don't want to be bullied your whole life.  So when your being pushed around by bullies, show your superior intellect because most bullies are stupid neanderthals. Fighting back with your fists won't solve any of your problems.

~ jared l., 15, (townshend, vt)

exercise # 5

I wish I was a neutron bomb for once I could go off
I wish I was a sacrifice but somehow still lived on
I wish I was a sentimental ornament you hung on
The Christmas tree I wish I was the star that went on top
I wish I was the evidence I wish I was the grounds
For 50 million hands upraised and open toward the sky

I wish I was a sailor with someone who waited for me
I wish I was as fortunate as fortunate as me
I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good
I wish I was the full moon shining off a Camaro's hood

I wish I was an alien at home behind the sun
I wish I was the souvenir you kept your house key on
I wish I was the pedal brake that you depended on
I wish I was the verb 'to trust' and never let you down

I wish I was a radio song, the one that you turned up
I wish...
I wish...


~ eddie vedder, pearl jam


YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO . . . .

I wish (exercise #5)

I wish I had a girlfriend.

I wish I could have a revival machine to bring back the Beatles

I wish I could lose 30 pounds and keep it off.

I wish I had money.

I wish I could live by myself.

I wish I could be halfway decent on the guitar.

I wish people at my school weren’t so judgmental.

I wish I could go to Europe

~ brendan mcpherson, 14 (westminster west, vt)

I wish (exercise #5)

I wish my family had more room.

I wish I didn’t take up space so my brother could have his own room.

I wish I had good food.

I wish my mom had money to take care of lots of animals.

I wish people had happiness.

I wish I was gone - to see the world without me.

All I see is stuff that I do wrong.

I wish I could see what I do to help people. And what I do in the world.

~ dominic anderson, (bellows falls, vt)

I wish (exercise #5)

I wish that I didn’t have to deal with the loud upstairs neighbors.

I wish I wrote the song “Freebird”

I wish everything had no weight or mass, yet could stay on the ground.

I wish there were no fatal illnesses.

I wish this school had more extra-curricular activities.

I wish people would stop talking about their hangovers.

I wish there was no homicide, suicide, genocide or war.

I wish I knew how to bake cookies.

I wish I was a super hero

I wish there was no peer pressure

I wish everyone could understand each other.

~ anonymous

I wish (exercise #5)

I wish that my friend would date people her own age so she wouldn’t get hurt.

I wish my boyfriend would not get drunk every night & day.

I wish things would get better for me.

I wish I had my own place so I could sleep better.

I wish I didn’t have so much drama and stress.

I wish I could just get through school

~ c. bennicoff, 16, (bellows falls, vt)