A Mask of Acceptance
For an 8th grade Language Arts unit, we analyzed the book "Indivisible" by Daniel Aleman, and presented on "What does it mean to belong, and what does it mean to be the other". I wrote this poem as my close. *The original art was created for this project.
A Mask of Acceptance
A mask covers all
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A hivemind’ish facade, a “uniquely” conformist mindset
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A brave individual speck of color in a sea of grey quickly shot down, the color drained
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Another arises, the greys stay clear, not wishing their veil to dissolve for they dare not live without
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A Mask of Acceptance
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The color slowly fades, squandered by the continuance and lonely being
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Then the cracks appear
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An error in the concealing
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The beginning of thought
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The beginning of dissimilarity
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The end of the Mask of Acceptance
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The spark of originality spreads
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A single tear from normality
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Are the masks needed?
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The cracks grow
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The breaks unfurl
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The variety revealed
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A new Mask of Acceptance, only
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Without the mask.
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Finding True Belonging
For the same unit and topic "What does it mean to belong, and what does it mean to be the other". I wrote another poem to complement my analysis.
Finding True Belonging
In a new world where borders blend
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A sense of belonging is a jumbled puzzle
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We may find people on the same path who wear the same shoes
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But on reflection, realize we are all foreigners when the paths diverge
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To belong is like finding your place
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In this global maze, a sanctuary of our own
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Yet we shouldn't forget, to see what is true
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The "other" in you, and the "other" in me
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Being the other means walking their mile
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Try and understanding their joy and pain
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With empathy and kindness, bridge the gap
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And truly connect, heart to heart
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So cherish the bonds that hold us together
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Celebrate differences, have no fear
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In this crazy world, where we all crowd together
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As people, we must unite and reveal how we all belong
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Anxiety
For a summer writing camp between 7th and 8th grades, I chose to write about mental challenges I saw some of my friends face, did research, and tried to capture their feelings and emotions.
Anxiety
Opaque as the angel and transparent as the devil
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Lurking in the sun's rays, basking in the shadows glow
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Preying on my doubt, feasting on my fears
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Admiring my insecurities and feeding on my tears
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They say we all have flight, but you will never leave me nor will I leave you
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The world spins, confusion and voices coming from all directions, that is when you strike
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Slowly removing my peace and comfort until only shreds remain
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Doubt, your sister, and fear, your friend
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Your name, anxiety, and truth be told,
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You are as afraid as me
Depression
For a same summer writing camp, this is another of the poems I wrote about depression.
Depression
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A room deprived of hope is my only home
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Although I created my joy, it still leaves me
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A river of tears flows through my life while
A somber black and white filter colors it
A single straw remains, my patience gone
An empty will echos through me
A pale ghost remains in my darkened corpse, yet my blue heart still beats
A bottomless well of sorrow is my only source of water
From which I must drink, my thirst unquenchable
Disease, Destruction and Death
For our 7th grade poetry unit, we had to choose a word and write poems in various formats. I chose the longest - "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis," a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine silica dust.
Disease, Destruction and Death
Breathless and weak, lungs straining to survive
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A battle lost with each labored sigh
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The once clear air now feels murky with pain
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Each breath, normally a gift of life, now driving us insane
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A thief in the night, lung disease steals the air
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Leaves us gasping, desperation everywhere
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With each day a reminder of what's to come
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The shadow of death, a slow march begun
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We hope for cure, for relief, and release
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But sometimes the toll of this dark disease
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Can only be met with acceptance, courage, and grace
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To live life fully, in our final place
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So let us cherish each moment we have
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And never take for granted the gift of a laugh
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For life is a journey with its own twists and turns
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And death a reminder of the love that returns.
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