By Emma Hudak, TIWP Student I wish I lived in the 1800’s. Back when young women got to sit at home and knit without a care in the world. Riding horses in the French countryside with a sister and talking about tonight’s ball. Staying up all night, writing by candlelight. No homework. Picnics in the […]

By Caroline Hesby, TIWP Student all humans tread on Earth’s floor ready to give or ready to take buther soft hand leaves seeds in her footsteps and the wild grass grows in her path. When the world sprouted its first buds, it placed an oak sapling in her bed, and when she woke she tucked it […]

By Caroline Hesby, TIWP Student jeweled eyes with pointed nosesor rounded cheeksknuckled hands or swollen fingersswarmed bodies, a low chatter the feminine nature to nurture,to understandto brush another’s hair, to wipeanother’s tearsto embrace with arms or words squeezing next to each other on bus benches, nuzzled like birds intoeach other’s wingssharp eyes scanning for threatas the […]

By Lucy Fox, TIWP Student Rope ensnares me,Caught in a fisherman’s net,Gray ocean,Gray eyes,At this point,I would take fire or water,I could,I would,Take all the candles,Imagine,The feeling of burning,Maybe you need to imagine,Not me,Fire,It twirls around,Climbing my skirt,A desperate plea for attention,I would do anything for you,Please,Please,Notice me,How pretty I must look,How would I look […]

By Genet Dutto, TIWP Student The wooden table,filled with cracks of spilled memories,the marks and scratchesof play-fights and mayhem,the distorted goops of glue which we trace,the mistakes we turn into art,the lovable drawings,figures we createto fill up the imagination,the table of artthat holds the truthof what we seek in life.

By Aly Kirke, TIWP Student Sometimes it’s okay to give up. When you keep trying over and over, breaking yourself more and more with each try, it’s okay to stop. What matters is that you tried. You don’t have to kill yourself trying to get there. I wish people taught their kids that.

By Mina Talebi, TIWP Student Watching the world on repeatFrom my chipping, white windowsillCouldn’t pull the fluttering curtains shut.Couldn’t change the channel.Because I couldn’t even stand. The colors outside were so blindingly blandThat I couldn’t even look at them anymoreThe bed was too hard.The room was too hot.The time held too still.The bus went too […]

By Emma Stokes, TIWP Student I hate inflationNot economicallyBut the inflation that happens when you start to raise your standards and realize I’m not as amazing as you thoughtThe inflation where you move on and the value of our love goes up but makes it less meaningfulOne day it will happenI’m not preparedMy economy will […]

By Mina Talebi, TIWP Student Ivy climbing into the holes in my heart,Clenching harder and harder,Till we all fall apart. Air balloons will drift me awayFrom this world in black and white,I wish it was grey. Kindergarten lanternsNo real fire,Let go of what you believeFly higher, higher, higher We’ll test our limitsUntil we crack,You can’t […]

By Sarah Hawkins, TIWP Student “I am not perfect. I am the perfect me.” —Samantha Ruth Prabhu I am not perfect.I mess up.I learn.I am sensitive.I am honest.I regret.I’ll do it differently next time.I feel stressed.I take a break.I cry.I let myself feel.I am the perfect me.