April 2018

Poetry·Sophia Dahlin — A teacher introduces experimental poetry written by multilingual students in Shanghai, created through unconventional writing prompts designed to spark wild imagination.

Poetry·Gabriel Levy, age 9 — A young writer describes the frustration of writer's block like drowning in lava and the relief of finding words like sleeping on a smooth waterfall.

Poetry·Emilei Lu, age 11 — A young writer describes preparing for the journey into imagination like bundling up for winter, knowing she might not find her way back.

Poetry·Angelina Lu, age 11 — A dreamlike poem where nothing and noone inhabit a valley of inverted colors and upside-down trees, until someone and everyone arrive to paint the sky with love.

Poetry·Gilbert Huang, age 9 — A boy's stream of anxious questions about loneliness, belonging, and fear spirals into a plea for connection and normalcy.

Poetry·Gilbert Huang, age 9 — An alien's confused observations of human life, mixing up body parts and behaviors based on misunderstood information from 'a piece of paper.'

Poetry·Gilbert Huang, age 9 — A young writer explains how the tooth fairy works, from the fairy's tiny wings to the exchange of clean teeth for money under pillows.

Poetry·Gilbert Huang, age 9 — A young writer describes the physical and emotional sensations of writing, from smoothness to nervousness to the monstrous feeling of being stuck.

Artwork·Lara Katz

Poetry·Andy Wu, age 10 — A child's meditation on the moon's solitude, repeating and varying descriptions that emphasize its loneliness and unique relationship with Earth.