Growth Poems
A Tough Nut to Crack
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Violet Smith lived in Center Kingdom. Her neighbors were Jack and Jill;
Like orange sun, of a pink morning, when it's just peeking over blue hills.
With Mother and Father and sister, Ava, Violet enjoyed life on Sage farm;
Just as lilac breezes, from out of the south, only rove to keep you warm.
Theirs was a land that still believed in magic, like the red, butterfly stroll;
Or like fall trees, being crowned in colors, as summer's story grows old.
Fragrant festival days came, when fashionable, family friends, gathered,
......
Months of Saturn
by Hope Norton
Be a father to me
place a hand on my head
keep me rooted, my mind
Oh father, why won’t you let me levitate?
I understand that you are distant
for me to grow above you
but please, that searing shield you carry,
put it down.
Embrace me warmly
......
"The tree that grew upside down."
by Dylan Wu Rong
The mind of a child is innocent,
through the eyes of an adult it is ignorant,
stuck in the middle,
like the earth in an eclipse,
my being protects the innocent ignorance in the shadow,
while the ignorant innocence is shined upon.
Belief?
Beliefs state my choices as wrong,
but what are beliefs,
when the idea in itself
......
Mr. Tree
by Rohan Dhulipalla
the sakura tree
in the dusty ol’ dark corner of the failing shop,
(although the owner would beg to disagree)
priced at $7.95
with a cardboard sign fastened with white cable ties
reading “UNLIKELY TO STAY ALIVE”
it appears that it was trying to expand,
to spread its branches,
but expansions weren’t in demand
......
magnets
by Sarah A
your lips are magnets to my skin
it feels rare to be loved like this
i guess that’s why i’m scared to admit
afraid of losing this uncharted bliss
my involuntary response
to keep everyone far
only continues the cycle
of breaking my own heart
maybe this time is a new start
what if we strolled forever in this park
......
A Tough Nut to Crack
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Violet Smith lived in Center Kingdom. Her neighbors were Jack and Jill;
Like orange sun, of a pink morning, when it's just peeking over blue hills.
With Mother and Father and sister, Ava, Violet enjoyed life on Sage farm;
Just as lilac breezes, from out of the south, only rove to keep you warm.
Theirs was a land that still believed in magic, like the red, butterfly stroll;
Or like fall trees, being crowned in colors, as summer's story grows old.
Fragrant festival days came, when fashionable, family friends, gathered,
......
Cross-Stitch
by Ben Quinn
A needle pulling thread; “pull it over itself,” “See the ‘X’?”
Pierce the perforated white
Pull it through, form the-
A wonky ‘W’ shape manifests in the firelight.
But I’ll get it someday, when I find the patience to.
A simple stick-figure becomes a pixel-art drop of dew
Becomes a vibrant landscape.
A world of thread and crosses.
......
"The tree that grew upside down."
by Dylan Wu Rong
The mind of a child is innocent,
through the eyes of an adult it is ignorant,
stuck in the middle,
like the earth in an eclipse,
my being protects the innocent ignorance in the shadow,
while the ignorant innocence is shined upon.
Belief?
Beliefs state my choices as wrong,
but what are beliefs,
when the idea in itself
......
Letter to Self
by Adelana Victor
Dear Adelana Victor Blaqhárt,
I need to make this crystal clear: stay out of my way. The path I’m on is one I’ve carefully crafted, and the vision I have for myself demands no interference—not even from me. I’ve spent enough time second-guessing, doubting, and overthinking. I can no longer afford the luxury of hesitation or the noise of self-imposed limits. So hear this—if you, I, ever attempt to sabotage what we’ve built, if you hesitate when you should leap, or if you take one step back instead of moving forward, I will not forgive you.
You’ve fought too hard to let yourself remain stagnant, to let fear or insecurity hold you back. Do not test me. I’ve been patient, I’ve been understanding, but I’ve had enough of this struggle. I have set goals, I’ve placed myself on a trajectory that demands all of my focus and strength. If you ever even think about derailing that, I will shut you down. There’s no room for doubt, no room for weakness, no space for hesitation. You either rise to meet the person you’ve promised yourself to be, or you get out of your own way. This is no longer a negotiation.
I know you, your brilliance, your creativity, your drive. But I also know your tendencies to question, to overthink, and to stall. The world won’t wait for you to find the courage; it won’t wait for your permission to move forward. So here’s the deal: stay out of your own way, or face the consequences of wasted potential. I won’t tolerate it. We’ve come too far.
From Adelana Victor,
You.
......
Never let go
by Sonja D.
Those steep stairs
I walk alone
thought I'd slip
sure I'd trip
come tumbling down
you held tight though
never let me go.
My path to walk
cycles of hell
......
