Missouri,

                                                                                               My long ago demon,

                                                                                               My personal Middle of

                                                                                               Nowhere.

                                                                                               My tears were for naught,

                                                                                               Though I cried when we left

                                                                                               The sun, the beach.

                                                                                               “Will this place have T.V.?

                                                                                               Horses to ride, and a sense of

                                                                                               Boundless ease?”

                                                                                               We asked about the Middle of

                                                                                               Nowhere.

                                                                                               My mom would just sigh,

                                                                                               Pat our hands, and say,

                                                                                              “It will be all right.”

                                                                                               There in the Middle of

                                                                                               Nowhere.

                                                                                               After a flight,

                                                                                               A two hour drive,

                                                                                               We made it.

                                                                                               Holding our breath,

                                                                                               We studied our house,

                                                                                               Picked out new rooms,

                                                                                               Stranded in the Middle of

                                                                                               Nowhere.

                                                                                               I was frightened, alone,

                                                                                               But I let no one see.

                                                                                               Mom had enough on her mind.

                                                                                               Depressed,

                                                                                               Snow piled up,

                                                                                               Locking us in,

                                                                                               A dismal warning,

                                                                                               Trapped in the Middle of

                                                                                               Nowhere.

                                                                                               Spring finally came,

                                                                                               And with it new friends,

                                                                                               Slumber parties and movies,

                                                                                               Unexpected joy.

                                                                                               Camping in summer,

                                                                                               What an experience,

                                                                                               And aside from being miserable,

                                                                                               I had fun in the Middle of

                                                                                               Nowhere.

                                                                                              Years passed.

                                                                                               I grew,

                                                                                               Learning and living content.

                                                                                               Missouri,

                                                                                               My present-day paradise,

                                                                                               My new and improved Middle of

                                                                                               Somewhere.

Jessica Lauren Clark is a tenth-grade student at Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo.