Kai Gajilan Fowler, 10 (Leonia, NJ) World Kai Gajilan Fowler, 10 Bright, so bright But Lonely, and tired. Lonely Lonely from being isolated for so long Tired Tired of being bruised and battered and scarred And yet Bright, so bright, The fight is bright, Filled with light But stressed, and fretting. Stressed Stressed for surviving any longer with pain inflicted every touch Fretting Fretting for the sake of lives And yet Bright, so bright, Tonight is bright Filled with light But crying, and calling. Crying Crying from burns and scrapes Calling Calling for others, others alike, others who don’t hear And yet Bright, so bright The world is bright Filled with light And trying with all of its strength, Trying for us Trying for the others alike Trying with hope at heart Hope Hope for us Hope for them Hope, for all.
poem
Frost (Portrait of Madame X): A Series in Ekphrasis by Ella Yamamura, 14
The Face of Winter She stands— a frozen flower; frostbitten. A gaze that could wither the sturdiest tree is aimed at the right. Bull’s eye. With skin fairer than Snow White, the Face of Winter ignores all else while being trapped within her dark restraints that weigh her down— the only thing keeping her from blowing away and snapping in half. What a brittle, frostbitten little flower. The Face of Winter she stands— a frozen flower frostbitten. Frost-covered frost living a dream.
Spring
I sense a fragrance Like old memories and new Peace drifts through the air Cherry blossoms bloom With memory of winter Lingering softly Lush meadows grow tall As nature opens its eyes Leaves of spring glow green
