Made strong by kin's bond

Roots endure, lasting and firm

Strength for time beyond...

When she feels weak,

from the pressure of trying

I try to remind her of her strength,

And ground her while she’s crying.

Her head?

Dizzy, trying to find the light in the dark.

Her eyes?

Blurry, crying makes it hard to see.

Her arms?

Heavy, with the weight of their emptiness.

Her hands?

Restless, staying busy trying to forget.

Her chest?

Weighed down, time is pressing.

Her heart?

Bruised, dam...

And it hurts.

It feels like I’m being pulled apart, stretched so thin that I feel transparent, and aching in every deep crack this world has inflicted on my soul. I’m so certain that at any moment I will shatter completely, and when the world world sees the millions of shards I crumple into, I imagine they may wonder how I held myself together for so long. Every waking second is heartache, and ...

I told you I wouldn’t forget

But time moves so fast

And now I regret

The parts that didn’t last

The sound of your voice

Was what first faded

I had no choice

As my memory degraded

Next was your gait

The way you moved through life

All your little traits

Cut away by times knife

Last was your smell

But I sometimes catch a hint

That scent I knew so well

My heart has your imprint

In the end I am l...

Where do I go from here?

Someone please tell me

I’m on my knees

Full of tears

Where do I go from here?

I know I’ve lost my way

Nothing to do but pray

That I overcome this fear

Where do I go from here?

I need some direction

Or maybe some affection

Will help my mind clear

Where do I go from here?

I feel so alone

Braving the unknown

Trying to persevere

But where do I go from here?...

Chest aching

Heart breaking

Tears streaming

Mind screaming

Body shaking

Thoughts taking

Dark paths

And wrath

Consumes me

Cannot see

Any light

Constant fright

Knowing I’m

Out of time....

Lucille, age 16, Fall:

Hey Diary,

Today in math class, I was assigned to sit next to the most beautiful boy I’ve ever seen (you already know who I’m talking about.) Whenever I’m around him, it feels like a thousand winged creatures are trying to escape my chest. He has the most captivating bright blue eyes that I have ever seen. His eyes are so expressive, revealing every emotion. My favorite th...

Art is powerful. It transcends cultures, languages, and race. It cuts across humanity to build a bridge, where we can all meet and collectively admire something beautiful. It is a neutral ground, where everyone can agree to meditate in peace. When I look at the man on the metro, playing music with a feverish joy, I can’t help but think of the beauty in art. I also can’t help but be reminded of the...

I’m standing on a beach, my callused feet sinking into the soft sand beneath me. I’m staring at the sunset, as the cold waves crash around me. With each wave, the water gets closer, and my feet sink deeper. The sky is painted with every shade of red and orange. Everything around me is reflecting in a gold-colored hue. As the sun is swallowed by the ocean, so am I. I close my eyes and I try to thin...

A winding staircase, that you cannot see the end of.

A long hill, that does not have

a crest.

A vast dessert, with no hope on

the horizon.

Different landscapes, with the same feeling.

Trudging through life,

enduring pain,

persevering,

hoping

for relief

that we cannot perceive.

And

suffering.

I continue to step,

one foot in front of the other

focusing only on what is at my feet.

I ignore...