the passage of time

Poetry·Sage Surra — Fish rise from waters across the world to sing cosmic songs of life, death, and connection, pausing Earth's rotation and revealing the universe's vastness.

Story·Clara Gluzdov — A cat named Ivy wishes to become human to play piano with her beloved owner Dahlia, but when her wish comes true, she discovers the painful cost of transformation and...

Poetry·Saketh Lingisetty — A vacuum becomes a metaphor for life's unpredictable forces, pulling us toward unexpected paths while dandelions spread their seeds against the current.

Story·Sarah Iwanaga — A young wolf befriends a human boy despite pack warnings, discovers his father made the same choice years ago, and must decide between two worlds.

Personal Narrative·Amber Zhao — A skeptical traveler discovers unexpected beauty on Australia's Sunshine Coast, finding solace in wild seas, storm-lit skies, and a memorial grove that transforms her perspective.

Story·Kana Shackelford — A four-year-old befriends a dryad living in the lilac bushes, but on her eighth birthday discovers she's grown too old to see her magical friend anymore.

Personal Narrative·Talia Tarason — Discovering her great-grandfather's coin collection leads a girl to understand how objects hold memories, inspiring her to buy her own commemorative coin.

Personal Narrative·Minghan Tang — A child recalls morning reading sessions with their sister after immigrating from China, reflecting on this lost ritual as the sister prepares for college.

Poetry·Oola Breen-Ryan — A morning walk reveals birds like phoenixes and dahlias like fireballs, ending with the burial of a bumblebee and hope for its resurrection.

Personal Narrative·Viviana Perez — A girl says goodbye to her great-grandmother's apartment in Michigan, cataloging memories of family gatherings, walks to the lake, and the feeling of having a family home.