Grade 9 students enter the world of post-WWII literature.

Shifting Reality

How can you tell what’s real

When you’ve witnessed the most unrealistic sights?

How can you not begin to question society’s sanity

When you find yourself fighting and fighting and fighting?

But suddenly you aren’t fighting for them anymore—

Their reason for fighting becomes nothing but a blurred irrational memory

You aren’t fighting to defend them to spare them to save them—

No.

You fight to keep your brothers alive— to keep your brothers breathing

You come to realize how lucky                            you once were

You were lucky because you          once had it so easy.

You begin to feel like life has just                                stopped

Like you’re slowly but surely               losing                      your                      mind

It breaks you apart                 piece           by           piece        revealing who you really are

You start to see yourself in a different light

As                a              boy

Behind this armor we hide behind we are nothing more than                          boys

fighting               our               way             through

hell

Laina L. (Grade 9)