a couple years ago, i was far away from home
the ocean was my view as far as i could see

and i couldn't believe the greenery around me
i didn't appreciate or realize how easy it was

to fall into the island lifestyle, island time
until i returned. but those weeks and how much i

enjoyed them are my little secret. a motion picture
in my mind to play and remind myself

of the island life i could have, and the island life
i might live permanently one day.

I hope you enjoyed this piece! It was based off my trip to Hawaii I took two years ago. Of course, it makes sense that I’m longing for beaches and vacation time since I know I won’t be able to travel for a long time. I’m not a huge traveler and no one in my family is either, but I cherish the opportunities I’ve had to see new places. Please share any feedback or writing challenges you’d like me to consider! Stay safe and healthy out there.

Brooke

i am surrounded by color but i feel
so grey. what you can see when you

care to look is mesmerizing, so i continue
to be an observer through this lens

and try to wash myself with the vibrant
hues of what i see. i want to swim

in rainbow rivers, travel to places that
don't exist outside of my mind. 

when i see the colors, i can imagine
it all being real

I hope you enjoyed this piece! I kind of got inspired by myself– that sounds so narcissistic– what I mean is a line from a piece I wrote in my writing workshop had the word “kaleidoscope” in it, and that gave me the idea to write this poem. It’s a fun one, as I love to write about color. Please share any feedback or writing challenges you may want me to consider trying out, and stay safe and healthy out there.

Brooke

America, you shine today
we look past your flaws and the chinks
in your armor to see the best in our
past, present, and future

we light the sky up in every color
for you. in honor of your existence,
we fly the flags high and deck the world
out in red, white, and blue

we pretend the world is not hurting
because our nation must act strong
to be strong, and the fireworks are oh
so beautiful 

I hope you enjoyed this piece! Happy 4th of July to all my American readers. I’m usually not the most patriotic person, but that was kind of the point in writing this poem. The fireworks in my area were sadly cancelled due to COVID-19, but hopefully you guys have some local fireworks that you can watch while social distancing. Stay safe and healthy out there.

Brooke

the cloud cover hasn't burned off 
grey skies, almost eerie white in the
distance blanketing us in the
dead heat of july

no one else is out. i've never seen
this suburban town look more 
like a desert. there were plans 
to have a bonfire, but

it's too hot already; the friction
between you and me makes
it hard not to suffocate
but no one's going to run

the air conditioning. waiting
for the clouds to burn off,
the people to come back, 
and for you and me to be 

okay again.

I hope you enjoyed this poem! I cannot believe it’s already July– time is flying! Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece or any writing challenges you’d like me to try out in the near future. Stay safe and healthy out there.

Brooke

either right place, right time by coincidence or 
a true understanding and connection
somehow fostered in math class

two columns over, two rows away
yet your eyes keep meeting mine and i feel like
you can really see me, here in this silent
classroom

nothing spoken out loud

but i see you too
and i'm not worried or self-conscious
i'm just looking 
to get to know you

and i think i know you pretty well
learning more and more as our eyes
keep meeting

I hope you enjoyed this piece. I know it’s probably really cheesy unless you’re currently in middle school or high school (and even then…) but it was an idea I had in my drafts and I wanted to try it out. Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece or any writing challenges you’d like me to try out in the near future. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke