Amazing poems by our Teen Volunteers
During one of our Zoom meetings, we had some our volunteers create poems to share with us. They were so good that we had to share it with everyone. Keep on reading for to read poems that are out of this world!
Poem by Anonymous:
Hidden behind a wall of my own making,
and in my heart I know it's going to to take a lot of convincing,
go lull myself out instead of breaking,
I know this should be the last time I'm silenced.
The last time indeed.
Sit in perfect silence,
and nod my head when needed.
And when they ask for my guidance,
I simply say what they repeated,
from that biased source of theirs
that tell them I'm a sin.
I want it to be the last time indeed.
Draw in my corner of honest,
deleted before bed so I won't be outed.
My own clumsy words written on stale documents.
Provide the lies that were spouted that fateful noon.
Perhaps this will be the last time indeed.
​
Poem by Vy:
No, I do not wish to be a doctor
No, I do not aspire to purloin your vile wealth
No, I do not snack on the limbs of your household pets
And all that you've savagely assumed of my nature.
Yes, I see clearly through my slit thin eyes
Yes, your opinions are full of malicious lies
Yes, I am worth than the scraps you give
Because I am not yours and was never yours to demean
​
Poem by Joscleyn:
They think they own me, my heart, soul, and body
They say what I do, and I do
They asked what I want, who I am, how I am
their eyes searching for my answer, their answer
through my lips, my opinion,
my choice
​
Poem by Vy:
The light flickers in her eyes,
Worn dry and dim
Staring at the toes of paper colored feet
She scrubs and scrubs away their grime
Away the light in her eyes dimmed,
Until it no longer flickered
Poem by H. Blue:
Flesh to bone
Bone to dust
In the end
We leave behind memories
Others bare to carry on
Poem by Asante:
its hard to breathe
with this mask on my face
and any attempt to pull it off is a waste
I wish I could restart and clear the slate
so when I acted normal people didn't think it was out of the norm or fake
​
Poem by Jackie:
Just be a kid
Gen z leaders of tomorrow?
More like warriors of fighting through the sorrow
I'm told just to be a kid
Impassioned, Indignant , Irritated
This world is making me
I am caring it on my shoulders
Like atlas on one knee
So heavy like a boulder
Wait…
Do I have to get older
Lemme stay young
These times make me wanna go back to go back to when I was four
When I didn't know about the war
Back when I wasn't afraid to go to the convenience store
Back when all i wanted to do was explore
But now , I am looking for a mentor
To help me with the stress that's deep inside of my chest
I mean be my guest
I know that I am blessed but that doesn't change the fact that I still need a life vest
To help me from drowning
When there is a sea of frowning
​
Just be a kid
​
No I have to prepare for college
But my high school years are still unfinished
I'm supposed to contain all this knowledge
I haven't had fun in a minute
I finished an assignment
Feeling accomplished
Another ones missing thats setting a conflict
Feeling like I need a speed limit
I haven't slowed down in a minute
Just be a kid
I think I had an epiphany
Wait no its just pressure n stress built into me
Or maybe I might just have to look into it
man , I haven't taken a breathe in a minute
Just be a kid
​
Procrastination is my biggest flaw
Maybe that's not the worst one of them all
But I know what's coming
I'm frozen in time
But I have to take whats mine
Right?
Just be a kid
​
Go on Instagram
Check her story
Check his story
But what's my story
Seeing allies post about
Rest in peace , rest in peace , rest in peace
But even in our world now
Not the after life but , now , today , tomorrow and now
We can't even fathom the thought
Of making peace with each other
​
Just be a kid
You gotta talk to someone
This isn't something I can run from
Social anxiety
Only I can see the irony
There's always a rivalry
Cus I got two sides of me
Big presentations are due
Teacher...may I use the restroom?
You think I'm just using it as an excuse
For what? Just to test you?
It's just meant to spell out doom.
How am I supposed to respect you
when you don't even respect us?
I'm not tryna make a big fuss
But don't you think these are topics we should discuss?
​
Just be a kid
I can't wear this or that
I have to be responsible for someone's wondering eyes?
Why I don't seem surprised
See when a girl gets to a certain age , she becomes sexualized
Being put down by other girls n boys
I can't even see beauty in myself with my own eyes
Filter after , after filter , after filter
Just to end up looking unfamiliar
I am now 15 and I am still on the journey
Of finding true self love
To be able to see I am perfect
The way God made me
I seem to be set free
​
Just be a kid
​
In school we are taught that we would always be working for somebody
But I'm not gonna fall for this puppetry
There always has to be a hierarchy
There's a fire flowing through my entire body
Feelin like students are becoming a minor party
We all have different gifts
But no the idea of that will set some conflicts
​
Just be a kid
​
Where are you from?
No where are you really from?
I'm American
Born in America
See , because right when I enter the doorway
I don't always try to display
My thick brown hair and dark brown eyes
Because I will always be categorized
I'm always advised
To act surprised
When I'm asked this question
I'm not ashamed of my ethnicity
But there is no simplicity
To this
It's always a hit n miss
This whole cycle of stereotypes goes as deep
As an oceanic abyss
Just be a kid
They keep on telling me…
I want to be a kid
But the world is making it so hard just to do that
I really don't want to be a grown up
If this is what it's going to be like
Just be a kid
​