By Audrey Lambert, TIWP Student “you’re so shy” they say,“you’re so quiet,”but, don’t you knowhow loud it is in my skull?you can’t hear it, thoughts like a spinning top.sorry i don’t feel likespeaking to you.nothing personal,really, it’s justi don’t think you could navigate these echoing canyons.i can barely read themap myself andthe white water’stoo dangerous for you.trust […]

By Callie Fullop, TIWP Student North is maror on Passover, or when I hula-hoop at recess. South is jump roping, and gymnastics, and playing with toys. West is playing music, and singing, and dancing. East is laughing with my friends, or taking a hike in the woods, or baking with my mom. And North, South, […]

By Harper McIntyre, TIWP Student I feel exposed. I’m in a ring with a thousand people surrounding mebut not too closely, there’s distance within it: emptinessfocus my clothes space.  but no eyes, all of those are on me.  as is the spotlightan eerie iridescence that switches on when im least ready that’s the magic of circus syndrome.not so much […]

By Annabelle Kennedy, TIWP Student I know you created me. I know you created me, and everything and everyone. I know you created some creatures to be small enough to be mistaken for a grain of sand and some To be big enough to pierce the clouds and make them bleed the rain that feeds the EarthBut […]

By Viviana Sanchez, TIWP Student “All the ingredients are here, which is gratitude…to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,telling them all, over and over, how it isthat we live forever.” — Mary Oliver The ocean is alive, always. The waves are the heartbeat of the Earth. Clams bring bubbles up to the […]

By Erin Hambidge, TIWP Student Firework or firearm, red, white, and blue explode across the sky, colors of mourning for a country riddled with bullets:  land of the free, home of the brave. Our strongest soldiers are schoolchildren  armed with clear backpacks and the fear that one day, shelter-in-place will not be enough. Empty buses, […]

By Viviana Sanchez, TIWP Student Every stitch in the quilt, Every dab of a quill Layer, to fan on the fire in the eyes of every young girl The civilized forest nymph The wild female spirit held in the hands of boys Tossed around like a play thing, made pretty and torn at the seams […]

By Tallulah Armstrong-Temple, TIWP Student 1. She is afraidof what?of double meaningssilk wrapped around barbed wirebouquets of roses with thorns so sharp you don’t even notice when they cutuntil blood drips, flowing to fillevery empty thought  staining a dusky red you can’t get out of difference, drifting into uncharted waters  She is afraid of the deep sea of doubt of being okay  letting […]

By Ava Moga, TIWP Student I see the cypress trees.I feel the salty air,the chilling ocean,the granular sand,and the jagged rocks Sweet, plump tomatoeson tangy and dense breadwith potato chipsand chocolate chip cookies the size of my handthat I’m only allowed to have one of. The aroma of sunscreen settlesand I cradle into my warm […]

By Ava Moga, TIWP Student My stomach’s too big.You’ll learn that it’s curvy. My arms take up space.You’re arms are strong and can hold up a whole world. My eyelashes are short.Forget about them look at your beautiful green eyes. My eyebrows are too bushy.You won’t think that when your fifty. He doesn’t like me […]