mountains

Poetry·Sylvie Zubaty — A meditation on weightlessness and tranquility builds through philosophical comparisons until the speaker climbs a mountain to grasp the sun and fall.

Poetry·Julia Xu — A poem observing wildfire from a distance, exploring the paralysis of witnessing destruction while remaining safe on a green mountain.

Poetry·Woody Szydlik, age 12 — A young poet contemplates the Continental Divide, finding excitement in the engineering feat and the symbolic boundary between watersheds and oceans.

Poetry·Nora Cohen, age 11 — A moment on a winter porch watching snow fall from grey clouds onto beautiful mountains, then walking away from the peaceful scene.

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.

Story·Sarah Süel, age 10 — A girl and her pet mouse climb the dangerous Mt. Treacherous, facing rockslides and bears before triumphantly reaching the summit and returning home as heroes.

Air

Poetry·Julia Marcus, age 13 — A hiker rises above civilization to Lake Alpine, becoming one with the hawk soaring overhead, breathing pine and sage and thin mountain air.

Poetry·Ethan Chen, age 10 — Explorers ride metal lions on wheels down a black tongue into a mountain giant's mouth, where teeth drip saliva before darkness engulfs them.

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.

Poetry·Liv Baker, age 11 — A sensory catalog poem moves from mountain drives through rain showers to skiing, capturing moments of calm through specific smells and textures.