Poetry
2021-2022 Submissions
2021-2022 Submissions
by Ella N.
Dear Softball ,
From the moment
I started fielding a ground ball
And swinging at a pitch
I knew one thing was real:
I fell in love with you.
A love so deep I gave you my all —
From my hand and my glove
To my bat and my swing
As a 3 year old girl
Deeply in love with you
I never saw a lousy pitch
I only saw my perfect pitch
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.
I played through the pain and the hurt
Not because challenge called me
But because YOU called me.
I did everything for YOU
Because that’s what you do
When someone makes you feel as
Alive as you’ve made me feel.
And we both know, no matter what I do next
I’ll always be that kid
With the smile
Love you always,
Ella
by Muskaan K.
I remember it all
I remember the roars
Of the people marching in the street
I remember them coming together
Like the rays of the sun
The people with signs
Demanding a new day
A new age
Red, white, and blue flags
Words were their only weapons
Their chin up high
And fists up higher
Shining through the clouds
Pushing for change
Pushing past their limit
Then came the others
With guns and batons
With metal and smoke
With shields and black armor
The people had their chins up high
And their fist up higher
But the others gripped the sun by its rays
And pulled it down
Until their fists were on the ground
The others pledged to defend
To honor and protect
But instead brought death and sorrow
Their footsteps a perilous drumbeat
Their bullets the thunder
Their tasers the lightning
Drowning out the sunlight
I remember it all
The streets painted
The air filled with tears
The others bleed blue
Then how come the streets were stained red?
by Peyton J.
In her hand is a little slip of paper,
that could simply end someone's life,
or create a murderer,
killing a dozen people with a knife.
On the slip of paper was my sister's name,
a young child chosen to kill,
Everyone stood quietly in shame.
I know she doesn't have the skill.
My stomach drops to the ground,
with the thought of my sister out in the game,
"I volunteer as tribute" I yell with a sound.
My life will never be the same.
Now I must win.
The games are about to begin.
by Jovan G.
What If,
The world was Different?
That event that happened recently, had a different outcome?
Society, worked differently?
That fictional character, creature, object, place, existed?
How would it play out?
What if,
9/11, COVID, the Black Plague, assassinations of world leaders, either of the World Wars, never happened? Well, first of all, the name Adolf would certainly be used more.
How much do those events affect the world, and how much would change if those events had a different outcome, or never happened?
What if The British won the Revolution? The Confederates won the civil war? The Axis Powers won World War 2?
What If,
There weren’t any wars?
What If,
Society was different?
The minority groups and the majority groups were swapped? Light-skinned people and Men fighting for their rights? May sound silly at first, but it could’ve happened.
What if, Humans were built differently?
How would society work for a carnivorous or herbivorous species? A species that was aquatic, or could fly? A species that has less or more limbs than us? Maybe even a species that’s cold-blooded, eusocial, or even a species that reproduces asexually?
What if, a society never formed?
What If,
That fictional character, creature, object, place you love,
actually existed in real life?
Would they be well known, or would they be hidden from public view? Well, that might depend on how “unique” they would be.
If you met the character, would your two get along? Maybe, but they also might think of you as an annoying super-fan.
What If, you didn’t know they ever were a fictional character? Would you still like them?
What If, all of them were real?
What If these things were the case?
How would the world be different?
Either way, at least be grateful of all the things that are real. Just imagine if scissors didn’t exist.
by Blake R.
To be successful in life you need knowledge
This comes from getting an education
Without this there can be blockage
Not knowing the right information
Kids around the world deserve equal learning, no matter the pay
To help them create opportunities for themselves
And know right from wrong so they have a good display
Why is it that people's intelligence is treated so casual
All people should acquire the ability to learn
Teachings should always be impactful
And parents shouldn’t have to have show concern
Learning should be a given
Not blocked because of pay
All students should be driven
To learn each and every day
To be successful in life you need knowledge
This comes from getting an education
Without this there can be blockage
Not knowing the right information
Education is the key to success
It can open you many doors
Intelligence makes jobs easier to impress
Next thing you know that job is yours
Knowledge is wisdom
The system that helps us decide
It brings us a source of income
And helps are families to provide
To be successful in life you need knowledge
This comes from getting an education
Without this there can be blockage
Not knowing the right information
by Ethan G.
What if life wasn’t just about me me, me.
Why can't it be about us, or we, everyone together
Why must people be categorized when there still young
“The rich one, the cool one, the weird one”
What if people got to make there life what they want it to be
What if there were no one that thought of themselves as the king on the kingdom, but as just a bird in the flock soaring through the sky.
What if there was no categorizing by visual appearance or gender
Just beauty in everyone in the world
No more racism or gender barriers
What if there were no more what if’s
Then that question cannot be stated
by Bella N.
Bam!
One shot
The man crumpled
The shooter ran
People shrieked
That man was innocent.
There was a need for change; this happens too often
I decided that I was going to be the one who pushed for that change.
I raised awareness-
I led protests
gave speeches
started campaigns.
Proud of the change I made,
proud of the difference I made,
proud of the fire I have ignited in others,
I can live with satisfaction.
by Ethan G.
The sun a peach orange
The sky a precious pink
Birds chirp above
As a couple chats below
A glass of champagne
A cup of berries blue
The couple had a perfect date
If only the boy hadn’t been late
by Mallory M.
We only get one Earth, one home, one chance, and we are killing it. The Earth has done nothing but help us and be there. Without it we would not exist. Some say that the Earth isn’t going to crumble and end in their lifetime so why should they care. They should care because their lifeline probably will experience that. Your great great great grandchildren might experience that. Someone out there will experience that. There will be many children who haven’t had the years they need to live. Their life will be cut short because of our mistakes. Some say that we can find another planet. If you think like that do you really believe that you will be going to that other planet? Out of all the people that help the Earth and do good for it do you really believe that you will get chosen? If you do, good for you but why would they let you go to the other planet if you are a part of ruining this one. We only get one Earth, one home, one chance.
by Maxim L.
Lush vines hanging
from towering trees reaching towards the sky
Marvelous mist floating
above wondrous waterfalls cascading from cliffs
A glass frog sitting
on the bark of a mighty tree
A mountain gorilla eating
bitter sprouts of sacred bamboo
A red gecko waiting
for the sweet singing of rain
Yet it all comes down
But it all comes down
And it all comes down
Generations engrained
with avarice and spite
It all comes down
It all comes down
Ghastly trees tunneling
into the barren ground
It all comes down
It all comes down
Crippled vines echoing
from dethroned branches of what once was
Livid ash seething
above dismal streams gripping on stones
A glass frog sitting
on the withered outstretch of a log
A mountain gorilla eating
shattered limbs of ruined cane
A red gecko waiting
for the worrying storm
Yet it all comes down
But it all comes down
And it all comes crashing down
by Anaika B.
If you were locked in a cage,
Your wings clipped and your freedom clipped with them,
Your nails ripped out of your hands just so you don’t mess up a couch,
Your vocal chords stripped away because you were too loud.
You would know these are acts of cruelty,
So why do we do it to these poor defenseless creatures?
I hear the door open and so I hide.
I always remember the day you told you loved me,
But I guess you lied.
Your eyes meet mine, once filled with love,
Now as dark as a Black Sea.
You drag me out.
I scream, wail, and howl.
Bang. my ribs feel like they’re set ablaze.
Again and again, over and over.
Till my body hurts in ways I never knew it could.
You leave and don’t look back, You didn’t care
I guess you never did, to you I was just,
“A dumb dog.”
My bowl is still empty
He forgot, again.
He stayed in his room, again.
Hypnotized by the big screen, again.
I went to go ask for food
He ignored me.
I guess this is my reality.
He calls me a mutt, dumb, and stupid.
I think he forgot my name.
He always says how much he loves that video game
I don’t know how I can compete with that.
You treat these animals like mindless emotionless objects
That once you’re satisfied you can dispose of.
You treat them horribly when they give you all their love.
Those who say they love them make excuses
When it comes to their own personal selfish uses.
They don’t have a voice
But you have a choice
Make It Stop,
Make It End,
and Make It Right.
by Peyton J.
The earth is our home
It is the beautiful planet we live on
It has cared for us
Given us food
Given us water
Given us life
And yet we continue to neglect it
The earth is our home
And we fill it’s waters with plastic
We fill it’s air with smoke
We fill it’s land with garbage
Man has picked apart
every beauty this planet has had
The earth is like a candle
Fighting for its flame
But we continue to blow it out
We are the killers
And earth is the victim
The earth is screaming for help
Yet we continue to ignore it
We create and build for our own convenience
Not caring about the cost
The earth is our home
But we will be it’s end
by Angelina S.
Why don’t we care?
Why do we ruin with such haste?
We are hurting ourselves,
And putting our environment to waste.
When the plastic you use ends up in the ocean,
It causes a bigger commotion than you may see.
Coral reefs are disintegrating,
And the animals are suffering.
The time is coming,
Where innocents will die,
Because of our sins,
There may no longer be a pretty blue sky.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Factories, factories,
Letting out poisoned steam,
Causing many birth defects,
And illnesses as sour as lemons.
We need to act,
And fast that is,
for if we don’t,
This land may no longer exist.
by Teodora R.
At age 13 I lived for the idea of being successful.
I watch others make their dream of becoming doctors
That’s what a teenage girl like me would like to do.
Or is that really something I would like to do?
All the studying and all the stress each day.
I really don’t know what to do.
No breaks? Got it.
I am a 13 year old girl worrying about what I want to be or if I will be successful.
Good grades and 5 more years of school in order to become lucky.
Working with kids and healing them is what I want.
Is it hard or am I just not trying hard enough?
I have no thoughts like the black cave that never ends.
I am a 13 year old girl.
If I fail, I will learn from my mistakes
I will try again to earn what I want.
I can do what I wish.
I want to become a doctor,
And I will.
by Jack T.
I’d rather feel the way I do
And have had you in my life
Than to never have known you
And skip over all this strife
“If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
That’s what I tell myself
And I really mean it
I still keep your picture on my shelf
Though it might sound sappy
You were my best friend
Even though you’re no longer here
I’ll love you until the end
I’m crying as I write this
And these are selfish tears
But I’ll always cherish
These blessed 12 years
I’m sorry that you had to go
I wish there was another way
But then again, I know
You probably didn’t want to stay
My mood’s been sinking
Without you I feel scrappy
But in the back of my mind I’m thinking
“If you’re happy, I’m happy”
For Rose T
2008-2021
I miss you already
by Dylan J.
9U New team
New dream
learn the basics of baseball
Find new friends
Learn new tricks
Learn how to play offense, and defense
10U new team
New dream
Put in more work than before
Put in more time, and more effort
Thinking about nothing but playing
Always obeying
11U same team
Same dream
Stronger and smarter
Baseball became harder
The pace picked up
Faster pitches, harder hits, bigger kids
Wondering if this is still for me
12U new team
Same dream
New kids, new trainers
School got harder and harder
Baseball getting hard to catch up to
Life became more tight
I was feeling just alright
13U Same team
New dream
Bigger field
Bigger dreams
Baseball wasn’t just a game
It was never the same
14U New team
New Dream
Wondering what high school to go to
If I should play in college
90 foot bases
Time to show real skill
Time to put in more time to the game
by Jenna S.
I am 13 and
The person who I am today
May not be who I am in the future
Or will I not change
Today I am 13
I love to swim
And I hate chocolate
I am a daughter, a sister, a friend
Sometimes I get carried away with
My role in other people’s lives
I may get to bossy or even to caring sometimes
I love Arabic movies and TV shows
But I dislike watching them alone
I love my family
I love the summer
And sometimes I don’t enjoy school
Today I am 13
Who will I be in the future
I would like to be a doctor, a nurse
Or an activist for occupied countries
I know I will make a difference in this world
A graduate, a wife, a mom
I may like chocolate
I will still love Arabic movies and TV shows
And maybe I won’t hate vegetables
Who will I be in the future
But no matter what I will still be Jenna
Someone who loves to swim
And loves summer
Someone who will always be a daughter, a sister, a friend
In the end I will always be loved by the people I love
by Steven H.
I am from Rubik's cube
From Macy's and paintings
I am from the place where the sun shines
Brick, semi circle
it looks like a church
I am from evergreen
Whose leaves don't fail for me to clean
I'm from Thanksgiving and Easters
From sandy and Samantha
I'm from the cross country and soccer
From the read, read, read and tidy up your room
I'm from Coptic orthodox
I'm from Egypt
Koshari and Egyptian grape leave
From the soccer my dad played The hardships of my sister in collage
In my room are pictures
Through all the pictures they tell a story, the pictures in my house are the story of my family.
by Ella N.
Flowers are blooming
Red yellow blue green and red
Brightness of flowers
by Analisa L.
Who knew moving was so difficult
This couldn't be happening; something I've never dreamt of
Thoughts came into my head, ones that I dread
How would everyone think of me
I'm not as bad as I seem
How many times was I reminded to stay strong
But that cannot possibly happen
Under all this stress and anxiety
How did I suddenly move out of a place
So important to me
I wanted to be determined and make new friends
But everyone kept giving me weird stares
Like I'm a petrifying monster
This couldn't be my home; it didn't feel right
I felt blue like the depths of the ocean
My stomach sucked in with freight
Oh why can't I just go back
I want to play in the playground with my old friends
I don't belong in this new world
My former school seems like the best place for me now
I had taken a very long time to adjust and make friends,
All that completely gone to waste
But things won't get worse, I now seem to realize
If someone does hurt me
I can pay deaf ears and close my eyes
You are capable, you are you
I decide to make the first move while
making new friends
Hey, maybe it won't be as bad as I thought
I might even set new trends.
by Olivia C.
I'm going to do something with my life.
Even though I’m still so young.
I want to be the best version of myself.
So I wonder how many old people wished to have an exciting life but never got one.
Was their life bare and dry like a sandy desert?
For myself I worry My life will end up being dry and cold.
When I’m older I want to feel every emotion.
I want it to drop onto me like paint and blend into my skin.
I want to taste the bitter sweet flavors.
I want to understand people.
I’ll make people feel something through what I do.
I will be a artist
or an architect or an actor.
The possibility flows over me like an ocean.
It comes crashing down while dreams fill me but the ocean falls back and awareness hits.
What If I’m not special…
Will my life rain down in coldness and regret?
Will it blossom with Joy and delight?
I can’t bear waiting.
It’s as if I’m sitting on pins and needles.
I want to know now but I can’t.
I’m still so young.
I just hope to be someone special…
by Olivia C.
The night leaves as fast as the day come but
The nights in winter are cold to the touch
So I try to stay warm
When I try to stay warm I ignore everything else
How the trees sway and the snow that falls in such an elegant way.
I shut my eyes but I’m still so cold.
The drops of snow continue the fall of my eye lids.
The cold goes to my bones and up my spine.
Towards my fingers and toes.
I see my breath in the air.
While my face flushes red, the wind still howls and owls coo.
My rose colored face is not because of affection
But because of my frozen body.
Soon my face turns to a horrid shade of blue and I drift away.
I drift away into unknown lands between the cold of life and the warmth.
Soon I am gone and this time I am warm and the snow continues to fall
and trees continue to sway.