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
A hivemind’ish facade, a “uniquely” conformist mindset
A brave individual speck of color in a sea of grey quickly shot down, the color drained
Another arises, the greys stay clear, not wishing their veil to dissolve for they dare not live without
A Mask of Acceptance
The color slowly fades, squandered by the continuance and lonely being
Then the cracks appear
An error in the concealing
The beginning of thought
The beginning of dissimilarity
The end of the Mask of Acceptance
The spark of originality spreads
A single tear from normality
Are the masks needed?
The cracks grow
The breaks unfurl
The variety revealed
A new Mask of Acceptance, only
Without the mask.
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
A sense of belonging is a jumbled puzzle
We may find people on the same path who wear the same shoes
But on reflection, realize we are all foreigners when the paths diverge
To belong is like finding your place
In this global maze, a sanctuary of our own
Yet we shouldn't forget, to see what is true
The "other" in you, and the "other" in me
Being the other means walking their mile
Try and understanding their joy and pain
With empathy and kindness, bridge the gap
And truly connect, heart to heart
So cherish the bonds that hold us together
Celebrate differences, have no fear
In this crazy world, where we all crowd together
As people, we must unite and reveal how we all belong
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
Lurking in the sun's rays, basking in the shadows glow
Preying on my doubt, feasting on my fears
Admiring my insecurities and feeding on my tears
They say we all have flight, but you will never leave me nor will I leave you
The world spins, confusion and voices coming from all directions, that is when you strike
Slowly removing my peace and comfort until only shreds remain
Doubt, your sister, and fear, your friend
Your name, anxiety, and truth be told,
You are as afraid as me
Depression
For a same summer writing camp, this is another of the poems I wrote about depression.
Depression
A room deprived of hope is my only home
Although I created my joy, it still leaves me
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
A battle lost with each labored sigh
The once clear air now feels murky with pain
Each breath, normally a gift of life, now driving us insane
A thief in the night, lung disease steals the air
Leaves us gasping, desperation everywhere
With each day a reminder of what's to come
The shadow of death, a slow march begun
We hope for cure, for relief, and release
But sometimes the toll of this dark disease
Can only be met with acceptance, courage, and grace
To live life fully, in our final place
So let us cherish each moment we have
And never take for granted the gift of a laugh
For life is a journey with its own twists and turns
And death a reminder of the love that returns.