lyrical prose

Poetry·Amber Zhao, age 10 — A young visitor transforms an aquarium trip into a meditation on humanity's relationship with nature, moving from wonder to environmental critique and back to artistic creation.

Poetry·Gabe Horowitz, age 10 — A swan gliding across a lake becomes a meditation on how serenity can expand from a single creature to transform an entire landscape.

Personal Narrative·Lydia Taylor, age 13 — A family camping trip to Yellowstone becomes a magical adventure as siblings explore forests, witness the Grand Prismatic Spring, and create their own riverside kingdom.

Story·Maggie Shelton, age 12 — Dawn breaks over a sleeping town, awakening colors, sounds, and smells as families gather for breakfast in homes around the world.

Poetry·Evangeline Flynn, age 10 — A small boat drifts on crystal waters under a rainbow sky, its peaceful rocking motion mesmerizing the observer in this watercolor-inspired meditation.

Poetry·Chloe Ma, age 9 — The moon as a silver bead on the sky's necklace slides into view each night, casting reflected light before giving way to the golden sun.

Personal Narrative·Zoe Kyriakakis, age 10 — A foggy bus ride home from a museum field trip becomes a meditation on the phrase 'swirling arabesques' and how certain words can feel alive.

Poetry·Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer, age 13 — A girl and her father venture into woods to craft a bow and arrows from oak branches, shooting them into the star-filled evening sky.

Poetry·Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer, age 13 — A young writer celebrates the allure of books, describing how words flow across pages with emotion and wisdom, naming beloved authors.

Poetry·Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer, age 13 — A prose poem captures running with a silver poodle by the ocean, where salt air mingles with thoughts of politics and stars emerge from boredom.