poetry

Jane Lee, 12 COVID: The Normality Thief Jane Lee, 12 Before Covid, my mom used to yell “Hurry or you’ll miss the bell!” My dad would add, “You’re going to be late!” But then the pandemic changed our fate   I miss The rumble of the bus Even though I had to rush I miss having a freshly sharpened pencil As a writing utensil Replaced by the clacking sound of a keyboard on the rebound   I used to think preparing for school was a bore Not anymore I miss wearing barrettes ribbons, and bows Replaced with noise canceling Bose Now I’m at home learning in sweats Instead of at school wearing my sweater sets   Zoom and Google meets Replace our classroom seats For math, it’s not bad But for orchestra it’s just sad It’s impossible to have a melodic session When it’s interrupted by a laggy connection   I miss break time chatting with friends Now I rest alone until brain break ends The teachers try to keep kids active But exercising alone is not attractive Walking to town with a friend Was once a treat until it had to end     Gone are the in-person enrichments and clubs like history, book, drama, and journalism with buds I miss the approaching sound of the bus Announcing the end of the day for all of us Now it’s just a click and a thank you Zoom out the day is done— we push through   For our future, for all humankind, we have a common wish, A return to our normal life, before Covid turned our world into a petri dish      

Salma Hadi St. John, 11 Oak Park, IL   Loneliness Salma Hadi-St. John, 11 My friends are all gone My life has disappeared Into a new world of loneliness It is just my family and I   Loneliness is like a tree in the desert The only cat in town A star stuck in space A speck of dust in the air   Loneliness is when you are the only one At your birthday party When you sit on the steps of your porch On a dark rainy day   It feels like I am trapped inside Waiting for people to come Watching the clock on the wall Scratching the door like a dog   But sometimes you just have to fight Loneliness You can’t be alone everyday   When I wake up today It is the start of a new day   We can be a force together We just need to reach out for each other Feeling happiness again    

Ethan Van, 10Irvine, CA Together Ethan Van, 10 Talking together. Chatting together. Homework together. Playing together. Running together. Left school. Can’t go outside. Talking no more. Chatting no more. Homework no more. Playing no more. Running no more. Or… Video calls. Distance chatting. Wired homework. Playing online. Running inside. Figured out ways, To stay Together.