light

Poetry·Analise Braddock, age 9 — A young poet connects the mathematical concept of parallel lines to the endless nature of Christmas traditions and Santa's eternal journey.

Poetry·Raeha Khazanchi, age 11 — Northern lights transform a winter landscape, turning snow green and hair violet-blue in a private celestial performance witnessed by the speaker.

Personal Narrative·Raya Ilieva, age 10 — During California's 2020 wildfires, a girl wakes to an apocalyptic orange sky and wonders when the world will return to normal.

Poetry·Sofie Dardzinski, age 9 — A young philosopher contemplates time's mysterious nature — how it stretches through space, moves at different speeds, and ultimately asks what we do with it.

Poetry·Sofie Dardzinski, age 9 — A young guitarist loses herself in playing, as golden light fades to darkness and the music wraps around her like a quilt.

Poetry·Soheon Rhee, age 12 — Precise instructions for cleaning a hallway become a meditation on observation, revealing the quiet dignity in routine work and moments of beauty glimpsed through windows.

Poetry·Ella Pierce, age 12 — A paddleboarder experiences heightened awareness of nature's details — jumping fish, water droplets, moonlight — finding beauty in imperfection and rhythm.

Poetry·Graecie Gwyn, age 9 — Rain transforms a landscape as shadows move, sun breaks through, wind flows, and trees lean toward water in a meditation on nature's interconnected movements.

Poetry·Amber Zhao, age 10 — A young poet describes the moment of completing a poem, exploring the paradox of creation—how words become both fragile and eternal, personal and universal.

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.