nature

Poetry·Avery DiBella, age 10 — Snow falls like a skydiver, melts like ice cream, disappears like a sad song, but promises to return in winter.

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.

Poetry·Sean Tenzin O'Connor, age 5 — A child observes the grain patterns in a piece of wood under lamplight, seeing landscapes of mountains, rivers, trees, and worms in its natural markings.

Personal Narrative·Billie Brown, age 12 — A young aspiring animal rescuer brings home a worm that dies overnight, teaching her that wild creatures belong in their natural habitats, not bedrooms.

Poetry·Sage Millen, age 12 — A sunset transforms into dragon fire and shattering colors, with the speaker urging readers to catch the pieces before everything ends in stars.

Poetry·Eva Worsick, age 9 — A child addresses a cedar tree, remembering climbing its branches, building a swing, sharing secrets, and hanging Christmas ornaments that catch the light.

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.

Poetry·Tessa Hsieh Schumacher, age 10 — A young writer explores her name through sound and image, from clear streams to butterfly wings, discovering it as her core of courage and uniqueness.

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·Olivia Wang, age 10 — A sonnet celebrating nature's cycles through sensory images of water, wildlife, and seasonal changes, from sunset to sunrise, rain to bloom.