Hello there, Jeff
This is an Review! 
I am also reviewing this item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
 I love the theme of the story. Love without borders is a clever way to get a reader's attention, thus, good title.
 The idea of a first love between this new teacher and her mentor, is plausible, albeit somewhat questionable that at her age she would wonder if it was love or a crush. It appears they spent much time together, and by the 13+ rating, I knew it had to remain pretty tame. However, my vivid imagination easily filled in the blanks where the couple's relationship went during those sweet months together.
 What I'm saying is, all the awkward stuff plus the romantic interludes were probably sufficient and had reached a comfortable state where they were beyond the physical magnetic attraction and beginning to discover the things that make them a a match for love and not just a physical thing. However, I digress. 
 I liked the drive of both of these teachers. For whatever their reasons, in order to follow through with their own dreams, they were bound to be separated by thousands of miles. Not conducive to a thriving relationship. It appears that she had the opportunity to choose his traveling, exciting, see the world, path, or stay behind and keep her comfy job where she currently taught.
 Again, she wonders if she should have gone with him, and self-doubts the love aspect, happy to settle with "it's only a crush" theory.
 Lo and behold, after being separated from him for a while, it hits her that maybe, it is indeed love -- real love.
 Good story, but the reader wants more. I know, there's a word count issue, but, if there were not so much top-heavy wordiness, perhaps a brief back-story and bring us to the emotional part and surprise us with an airline ticket, one-way. But don't tell us which way it was going. 
 Now that would hit the reader between the eyes.
 It's a fine story as far as love vs crush is concerned. And, what can you do to make that contest prompt work and at the same time not sound too syrupy? I don't know. Probably why I skipped choosing that prompt during the 10th WDC birthday celebration. 
Your a good sport, Jeff to put up with my vivid imagination coming alive all over this review.
Until next time--write on!
Regards,
WebWitch 
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| (4.5)
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I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the random Read and Review.
I really enjoyed this poem about a river, and how it fits into nature in its own way. The river flows toward its destination and swirls and ripples around objects that stand in its way. It will not stop the flow, just paint a different picture of it in the lens of a camera. Love doing photographs of nature!
I was impressed as I read through the lines that you managed to take me all the way to the end. I looked back, and saw the words spelled out clearly. Thus, like an impressionistic painting, one sees more standing a further away from the painting.
My review has been submitted for consideration in "
Ahh, I remember these feelings well, when I was starting over in a new relationship. All things are possible, everything is fresh and exciting. Yes, your words brought back all those feelings.
Your poem as all of your poems have a lyrical quality to them. They play music into the ears of the reader, as odd as that must sound! 
The lines flowed beautifully and the imagery easily painted itself within the mind's eye.
At first I was going to pass on reviewing this, after all, it is a basic submission page with rules and guidelines. So, what's to review?
I read through it again, as I did enter a couple WDC Anthologies in the past, but I don't remember seeing this part. 
You know something? I never thought of it in that way. Not everyone who enters is published. There are no requirements to even purchase a copy. Fewer than half the submissions were accepted. It made me very proud that the couple times I entered items into the Anthology, I had entries that were not only accepted, but Editor's Choice. That is quite an honor! 
Thank you again, for all the hard work you do to bring this baby to life. WDC is much richer with the Anthologies that show the works of so many multi-talented members here on WDC.
You are right in saying that joy or rejoicing is quite easy when everything is going along well. It's a bit harder when there are trials and difficulties to overcome. Believing that you are not alone is reason within itself to always something to be joyful about.
This was quite an inspirational piece. It was not just food for thought once read, but genuine food for the soul. 
Such a sad view into a relationship that has a feeling of the hurt party being objectified.
The comparisons of being used as comfort and support to one, but the other does not feel the love or any real connection to his life.
Loved the symbolic metaphors, here:
I believe this line could be formatted differently for more impact, since it is much longer than the other lines in the poem. 
TRY:
Good job with this free verse prose-poem. It tells quite a story of an unbalanced relationship.
I enjoyed the deeply woven wisdom and inspiration it offers. We can do those things we never thought imaginable through perseverance and believing it can be done. Putting our energies into that which we know we are meant to do. Also, we can thank God for all He has surrounded us with for the inspiration we need. 
I enjoyed this prose-poem. It had a certain melodious flow without the need of rhyming. I like that. Free spirit and free verse, well constructed! 
I see no spots that need further editing. It is clear to the reader and contains a subject matter that deserves the attention.
The poem itself told a story. I see no specific rhyming pattern. It is a well written free verse that makes a reader feel the emotion. 
I detect no particular style, right off. However, I am not a form poetry person, anyway. 
If there is one line that seems to throw the melodious flow off just a tinge, I would say first line, second verse. It seems a bit wordier than the other lines.
Otherwise, wow, I'm impressed! I love the image used at the end of the poem.
Your story is a fantasy look, into worlds of elves, and shadows and the one who claims to be creator of all they are in this particular world. It's magical and a curiosity for the reader to learn as the story unfolds.
Many times Newbies have difficulty with the formatting. There is a space that asks on the form to save format. However, it's not so much the misaligned sentences and paragraphs, it's the fact that this item has been placed a couple days ago, and without any modifications. 
Your poem reflects the hopes, dreams and love that have been a preparation for the new arrival to be. This baby is your dream and your dream is about to come true in the New year. 
The poem gives no idea as to the sex of the baby, as both blue and pink are used in lines, throughout. Thus, we are left with the mystery of will it be a daughter or a son? Either way, mommy and daddy will be overjoyed!
However, it is quite the beautiful, poetic expression of love, like no other -- becoming a mother. 
The colors on the apples are very pretty to add variety. The graphics themselves are bright and cheery and the message is beautiful as well. It shows you care to send thanks to a teacher.
Also, a very nice touch having the Blessed Teacher, notes, as one should not forget there are many teachers who teach at Christian schools, and would love such recognition.
A youth is flying to LA meet with a publisher. A writer's dream coming true!
A strange woman is seated next to him on the flight. There is something mysterious and wonderful about this woman. However, I won't spoil it for other readers. 
As a mother, I did not like the part where the older woman placed her hand on his thig and gave it a squeeze. Unless this was going to be an "adult subject Matter" story which it is not, it's inappropriate here. There are many other ways a woman could be grandmotherly without touching his thigh. Just sayin' 
Oh, my heat be still. 
You certainly brought the moment to life with one in this poem, with a woman, not his wife.
His mind is what the reader read as he spotted her, craved her, and took her to bed.
I was very creeped-out about the description of the dust bunnies being more than a week or more since the last vacuuming under the bed. 
You really did a stellar job of hooking the reader into the poetic musings, here. I thought of all sorts of horr and intrigue being multiplied under the furniture of every home, and some alien force being behind it, awaiting sufficient population to take over the world!
I thought the flow was smooth in this free verse poem. It grabbed my attention and took me along for the ride right up until the end. And then there was darkness. The reader is left with a vivid imagination run amok!
Your poem really hits hard, with facts about insulin and blood testing, all those things associated with Diabetes. I've seen my mother go through it and my brother currently has to deal with this disease.
I also noticed it had some highlighted words woven within the poem. I figured it must have been for a contest, and those words were the prompt words needed to be used.
Your poem didn't blink a bit as those words were placed into their lines. The flow was smooth and the impact great.
Wonderful job with the weaving of words and the profound emotion a reader could glean from the subject matter.
I like the Martians have a snowball fight. It makes them seem so "earthy." 
This was a very brief piece of a youngster's imagination. I could only suggest, somewhere below the youthful writing, to do a current adaptation of this children's story from an adult's POV of how he felt when he wrote the story so many years ago. It would be interesting to see the contrast since time has passed and vocabulary and describing instances would be much more fantasy-colored, and quite prismatic from an adult view.
I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
There is something so mysterious about this tailor and events surrounding him. The reader can detect a bit of magic being a part of the talent which makes this tailor the best around.
I feel as if there needs to be more developing of the story so that the reader has a clearer vision of everything going on in it. It seems to have a lot of description up front of the tailor and what people think about him, yet, the ending seems to come abruptly.
I noticed the word count, thus each word used is important to making the story clearer. Thus, writing tighter and dropping things that are repetitive, and making sure the ending will satisfy the reader are important things to consider. 
I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
Depression is a serious illness that can go on without being noticed by others. I lost a dear friend less than a year ago due to his deep depression. He took his own life -- a permanent solution to a temporary problem he was facing. He never realized how much the friends he left behind loved him, and we miss him so much.
I hope you are doing better with your battle and have help with counseling and medication if needed. Every life matters. I truly believe that.
Kudos! I know this was deeply personal issue that you have been battling. I am happy to know that you continue to keep it from pulling you down. It takes a lot of strength, which is especially difficult for one who is completely exhausted. But, that fact that you find inner strength each day is a tribute to your great fortitude and fight for life. I pray you keep holding on to that strength.
I really enjoyed your interpretation of this song. The lyrics are very encouraging for one who reads them and applies the Sister of Mercy caring to them. Yes, one is not alone if someone has your back and your secrets are kept. It is trust and honor and done so in a humble way.
I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
I liked that image of her. I thought of my mother's hands and how they were petite, yet could do so much work. She loved to cook, was a former bass player, and did embroidery work, that resulted in things of beauty.
Your partner reflects in such a glorious way from your descriptions of her.
The poem describes a deep regret about ending a relationship that was thought of as perfect. Things may seem perfect when they begin, but later certain changes in each individual seem to magnify and lead one to believe all is not so perfect anymore. 
I am also reviewing your item because it popped up on the random review generator,
This was such a sweet children's story. You bring love and hope to a young girl who was struggling with pneumonia and bored as well as sick, as she looked out the bedroom window to watch her friends playing outside.
You make the reader feel Annika's emotions and understand how difficult it is when a child is sick and stuck inside the house.
I noticed the words in bold print and assume these were prompt-words for a contest. If that's the case, they were well woven into the story and did not seem forced at all.
Great ending! My heart felt joy for the girl. That Bonnie is a wonderful friend!