By Ava Moga, TIWP Student It’s the middle of Junebut the fog hangs in the sky.The waves rise up and crash onto the sandwarning you not to come any closer.Yet there are still people on the beachsavoring their sandwichesand flipping through magazines.To you, summer might be hot weather and tan linesbut this is what this […]

By Mira Hubly, TIWP Student Even if a picture is worth a thousand words,each word is more delicate than we realize.Words create boundaries and build bridges across cultures, nations, and generations.Words bolster culture, carry emotions, and influence perceptions.Any word can form beliefs,entice people,crush people,anger people.Words are in our powerto hold, keep, define.We’re lazy with words.But […]

By Mira Hubly, TIWP Student Say no to perfection,No to constant negativity,No to toxicity,No to people who squash you down to less than you are. Say no to scrolling and that hypnotic blue light, No to letting the clock tick,Yes to more time for you. Say yes to you, yourself, and you first:Your energy, beauty, and light. […]

By Ava Moga, TIWP Student College apps,AP classes,And grueling study sessions Extracurriculars, Sports, And volunteering Saying goodbye to my friends,Walking across a stage,And being handed a diploma,A piece of paper that tells me I’m finally allowed to leave Walking away from not only tearsInsecurityAnd heartache But also laughsGossipy gabbingAnd hugs Walking into A world Where I don’t know my […]

By Ava Moga, TIWP StudentThe rain washes me.My makeup is hosed downInto a milky puddle.My foundation melts away. Mascara pours down my faceAnd the blush is eaten away.My hair becomes showered.The hairspray crunch is gone.And my earrings fall off.My shoulders slump And my jaw unclenches.A real smile returns.I’m back to normal.

By Leighton Tanaka, TIWP Student Among the stars, cocoons of light ascend released by mourning, shaking, perished hands connected to a slight, bony body drowned in the sky above. As the light of life falls below the surface, these burning, golden lanterns, filled with smiles, calls, shrieks, whispers, and sounds of joy escaping their cracked […]

By Cyra Rahman, TIWP Student Under her watchful gaze,Secrets are told in the safety of shadowsPeople admit their true feelingsShow their true selves, emboldened by the darkness that she brings She rises upOvercoming her dearestDestined to never meetHer lover sinks, below the horizonNot to be seen until morning She brings gentle lightNot as intense as […]

By Yuki Akemi, TIWP Student Under the apricot tree you standWaiting for meYou smile a thousand sun smileI wave and say hello Sweet and kind like honeyDelicate beauty like a glass flower I wave and say helloYou are eager to talkAs always I happily listenHoping the silence will be drowned out by your voice Sweet […]

By Cleo Springfield, TIWP Student Just a normal dayGina watches her silly little kid showsCarrie struggles to fit into her favorite shoesI read the book I checked out of the library Police sirens tune out our voices and the TVScreams echo through the neighborhoodGina whimpersCarrie freezes in place My book falls on the groundThe house […]

By Cyra Rahman, TIWP Student She tries to use the last of her energy to put on a brilliant showUnder her, many things happenLove blossomsLives beginBeauty reveals itself She uses her slipping energy to throw out a show of pinks and oranges in the skyShe sets it alight with her beautyThe clouds only magnify the […]