Tag Archives: poetry

You Be You, I’ll Be Me

Posted on by
Reply

One evening, I got to thinking about peer pressure. It is something that challenges each and everyone of us, and we have the choice to resist it, or to give into it. This may seem like a simple choice, but once you are the subject of peer pressure, you will realize the difficulty of resisting its forces. On that evening, I wrote this poem in the hopes that it will inspire many other people to be themselves, not what other people want them to be.

Everywhere,

Everyone,

A force pulls at them,

Pulls them until they cannot resist much longer.

It seeps into everything,

It tells people how to look,

How to act,

How to be,

It whispers to us our imperfections,

Slowly gnawing away at our sense of self.

It tells us we’re not good enough,

It tells us to look like the popular girls.

No.

Push it away,

stop it from taking over you,

From changing you,

Because you be you and I’ll be me.

No.

Ignore its’ demanding that you rip yourself apart and put yourself together again in the hopes that people will like you more,

because you be you and I’ll be me.

500+ Silhouette Pictures [HD] | Download Free Images on Unsplash

Enough

Posted on by
1

High school is a stressful time. As is middle school. There’s a constant pressure to conform, to be just like everybody else. Pressure to like the books and music everyone else likes, pressure to be popular and “cool.” Pressure to blow hundreds of dollars on new clothes to keep up with a fashion that will be out of style in two weeks. All of this pressure builds up, making it hard to stay true to yourself, hard to even remember who you truly are. But try to break free from that pressure. Try to remember. And know that you are, above all, enough.

You are enough.

More;

a rockstar,

a superhero,

someone truly

one-of-a-kind.

You are unique.

So flaunt it and just

be yourself.

In this

cruel world,

it may be hard

at times

to stay true

to yourself.

But remember.

There is only

one you.

There will only ever be

one you.

Your eyes,

your smile,

your laugh,

who you are

as a person.

None of that

can ever be

replicated.

None of that

can ever be

taken

from you

because that is

uniquely you.

You are

beautiful.

You are

perfect.

You are

enough.

So remember.

Even if your day

is hard,

even if your life

is hard,

you are enough.

And that is enough.

So be yourself.

Because who else

would you want

to be?

This is a free verse poem I wrote for a speech class of mine, but I decided to share it with you. Maybe it’s a little cliche, but it’s something I truly believe in. I based my entire eighth grade commencement speech on this very concept: you are enough and you are beautiful, just the way you are. I, too, sometimes struggle with myself. I often get frustrated and angry and stressed. But reminders like this help me keep my thoughts in line, help me get back on track. Hopefully this little poem was your reminder today.

Authors We Love: Mary Shelley

Posted on by
1

A contributor to the Gothic and feminist movement, Mary Shelley was an extremely influential author of the 19th century. Shelley’s legacy can still be seen in literature, which is why it’s important to understand her background and what prompted her works.

Shelley’s feminist nature was undeniably a result of the influence of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Wollstonecraft was an extremely radical writer who wrote a Vindication of the Rights of Women, calling for equality for women and trailblazing the empowerment of women in education. 

Another notable figure in Shelley’s life that had a great influence on her writing was her husband, Percy Blysshe Shelley. Percy Shelley was a famous poet who is best known for his poems: Ozymandias, Ode to the West Wind, and Adonais.

One of the main reasons Mary Shelley’s impact can still be seen today is due to her most famous book: Frankenstein, also known as the Modern Prometheus. In Frankenstein, Shelley explores many themes such as nature vs. nurture, familial responsibility, romanticism, and revenge.

 Frankenstein is still a required read for many middle schools and high schools, which is definitely necessary as it can teach important life lessons to people of all ages. The ideas within Frankenstein such as the danger in pursuing advancements in technology are extremely applicable to today with the developments we are seeing with AI technology.

Mary Shelley was an extremely powerful force in literature during her time as an author, and this legacy has certainly lived on into the 20th and 21st century as we can still see her influence in a variety of artistic works today.

– Taylor O.

Books by Mary Shelley are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Eighteen Years by Madisen Kuhn

Posted on by
1

Growing up, I have always loved to read poems but it was not until around 2 years ago when I decided to read my first poem book. After hearing it as a recommendation from some friends and seeing it on social media, I decided to pick up the book Eighteen Years by Madisen Kuhn.

While I greatly enjoy reading the classics, I think it is equally as important to indulge in easier reads like this one. Eighteen Years is made up of over 200 poems, a few of them being accompanied by Laura Supnik’s creative illustrations. Each poem is uniquely different, and Kuhn wrote it to be a source of comfort for her readers.

Personally, I would recommend Eighteen Years for an older teen audience: those 15 and older. The poems are not inappropriate, but I believe that an older teen would get the most out of the book due to its relatable nature for those who have lived more of their teenage years. Some topics of discussion within the poems include relationships, personal growth, and friendships. 

Similar to my own opinion, most reviews on this book are overwhelmingly positive. With this, some people have proven to be critical of its writing, but these reviews are from a predominantly older audience that would most likely not relate to the experiences as much. For this reason, I think the book is extremely beneficial for a teenager to read to help them through these confusing years of their life.

Next time you are looking for a light-hearted read, consider Eighteen Years as it greatly inspired me to read more poetry books and poetry as a whole.

– Taylor O.

de Portola 50th Anniversary Poem

Posted on by
1

de Portola Elementary, my school, had its 50th Anniversary celebration on March 31st.

I got to read this poem I wrote during the assembly!

–

“Thank you, de Portola”

Celebrating these 50 years

Is a beautiful achievement

To think of all of the blood, sweat and tears

Put into this school and made whole 

–

Celebrating 50 years

At first sight so much more than it appears 

for so many students are taught here each day

Taught to learn how to foray into our world

And this school has helped fifty years of students,

Urged their creativity, made hard problems unfurl.

–

They’ve played on this playground,

Ran in these fields

Learned in this building

And here ate their meals.

–

Those 50 years of students

Learned to do math and read and write

Those skills will forever help them

To guide their dreams in sight;

it helps them fight for their future

–

This school has given so much education

Like a train station, its

Helped so many reach their wanted destination

Because this school has made the difference

In so, so many lives

–

And do you know how?

It’s the staff make this school whole

They teach us and guide us and help us when we fall

They’ve cared for us and rewarded us as far as we can recall,

their patience should be recorded for all.

–

They are kind when we are not,

Patient when we are not,

And help us when we’ve forgot – 

because we all do.

–

So thank you, staff of this school.

But it’s not just them that have built this community; 

it’s you too.

–

So thank you, de Portola.

Thank you for making the difference for 50 years.

Thank you for helping us past our fears

Thank you de Portola.

And thank you…

For listening 

I Am Offering My Love (Inspired by Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “I Am Offering This Poem”)

Posted on by
1

Growing up, it was hard for me to express my emotions, especially with my family. I was highly inspired by Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “I Am Offering This Poem” and wrote my own version of it, called I Am Offering My Love, as a way to convey my feelings.


I don’t have much to give, maybe I don’t have anything at all.

I don’t have the money to buy you anything.

I can’t wrestle with God to claim the Earth for you.

However, I have my love, and I hope it can reach you through this poem.

Thank you

You were the one who brought me into this world.

A world that has given me happiness,  

a world with you.

Would you keep this?

After I’ve thrived, after I’ve soared to new heights and left you, would you keep this?

Thank you

For so long, you were my lifeline.

I couldn’t do anything without you, and you stayed with me the whole time.

Because of you, I am where I am today.

Thank you

You are like the sun, lighting the way for me.

You are like a pillar, supporting me and always making sure I’m still standing.

Like a book, always having an interesting story to tell me.

And I am always willing to listen.

Thank you

On a rainy day, I remember the times we had together, and it suddenly feels like it was sunny all week.

I would remember all the times we would go to the park and eat ice cream.

I would remember all the times we went shopping when there were sales.

I would remember all the times you made me laugh.

Hopefully, you remember those times too.

Those moments with you kept me going during difficult times.

I know we will make a million more memories, because you’ll always be by my side.

So thank you, for everything 

Album Review: Evermore by Taylor Swift

Posted on by
Reply

In July of 2020, acclaimed singer-songwriter Taylor Swift surprise released her eighth studio album, Folklore. Fans were shocked by her abrupt dive into the alternative-indie genre after being a global icon of pop music for years. On December 11, 2020, she followed up by surprise releasing her ninth album, Evermore, shocking her fanbase once again.

Evermore is a 15-track album of alternative rock and indie folk songs. Swift collaborated with Aaron Dessner on the album, and most of it was recorded at the Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley. It features the bands Bon Iver, Haim, and The National. As a cottagecore-inspired escapist album, Evermore is most known for Swift’s incredible and haunting storytelling and poetic lyricism, which is backed by fingerpicked guitar, melancholy piano melodies, and soft percussion. This album is a musical storybook full of tales of marriage, infidelity, heartbreak, grief, love, and human emotion. In my opinion, the following are the most well-written songs on Evermore:

Track 2: “champagne problems” – This song is the story of a woman who turns down her partner’s marriage proposal, shocking all their family and friends. As Taylor Swift stated, the characters were “longtime college sweethearts [who] had very different plans for the same night, one to end it and one who brought a ring.”

Track 5: “tolerate it” – This beautifully written song tells of a never-ending struggle where the narrator wants love from their partner, who isn’t paying attention to the narrator at all. Swift drew inspiration from the novel Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, explaining that the young woman in the story put in much effort to impress her husband, yet he merely tolerated her love.

Track 9: “coney island ft. The National” – This song features back-and-forth conversational lyrics between two characters who were previously involved in a relationship. Through somber and nostalgic lyrics, the narrator regretfully apologizes for not loving their partner enough.

Track 10: “ivy” – In “ivy,” Swift sings about a woman falling in love with someone who is not her husband, leading to a secret affair.

Track 15: “evermore” – As the title track of the album, “evermore” is a piano ballad about the narrator’s journey from an endless stretch of deep depression to a place of hope and healing.

To conclude, Evermore is a beautiful album that stirs up emotions in listeners. I would absolutely recommend this album, especially if you enjoy reading classic literature and can appreciate the beauty of Taylor Swift’s lyricism.

Happy listening!

The question pounds my head
“What’s a lifetime of achievement?”
If I pushed you to the edge
But you were too polite to leave me
And do you miss the rogue
Who coaxed you into paradise and left you there?
Will you forgive my soul
When you’re too wise to trust me and too old to care?

-Taylor Swift, “Coney Island”

-Lam T.

Book Review: Paraíso by Jacob Shores-Argüello

Posted on by
Reply
New Book: Paraiso by Jacob Shores-Arguello – Blog on the Hyphen

Paraíso by Jacob Shores-Argüello is a poignant book of poetry about loss and finding solace in culture. Argüello draws on his traditional Costa Rican background to reminisce on his childhood in the country and help him cope with the loss of his mother.

This book was a really digestible read, of only 20-some pages. The poems are short and use simple diction- easily understandable. Still, this does not detract from the depth and emotional meaning of the pieces- through just a couple dozen short poems, the reader is able to feel Argüello’s acute pain and grief. In addition, Argüello’s Costa Rican heritage makes several appearances and important contributions to the flow and character of the poems- which I, personally, found quite significant; in grief and pain, you must ultimately return to your roots to heal.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and simple yet still moving poetry read from an author of color!

-Vaidehi B.

Milk and Honey

Posted on by
2

Book Title: Milk and Honey

Author: Rupi Kaur

Rating: 9/10

Reading Level: 8-12

“I am water. Soft enough to offer life. Tough enough to drown it away”

Milk and Honey is a beautifully written book by Rupi Kaur that features 4 sections: the hurting, loving, breaking, and healing of life.

Kaur has written this book with a level of finesse but also solitude that I haven’t ever read before. This book features poems and minimalistic illustrations that manage to give the book a delicateness and sense of mindfulness throughout its 226 pages.

Milk and Honey does have a bit of mature content, which is why I rated the reading level of this book a little higher, but is a must-read for those searching for a truly masterful poetry experience.

“For you to see beauty here does not mean there is beauty in me. It means there is beauty rooted so deep within you, you can’t help but see it everywhere.”

-Anusha M.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Women Are Some Kind of Magic by Amanda Lovelace

Posted on by
2
Women are Some Kind of Magic – A Queendom of Books

Women Are Some Kind of Magic is a poetry and prose series by Amanda Lovelace, dealing with themes of toxic relationships and self-love. The series consists of the princess saves herself in this one, the witch doesn’t burn in this one, the mermaid’s voice returns in this one, break your glass slippers, and shine your icy crown.

Amazon.com: break your glass slippers (You Are Your Own Fairy Tale) eBook : Lovelace, Amanda, ladybookmad: Kindle Store

Lovelace writes about common themes in many women’s everyday lives with a tone that mirrors the simple advice of a best friend. Her writing is empowering in a way I haven’t really seen before- the poems are short, and the illustrations are succinct, but the confidence and self-assuredness she possesses really shine through.

shine your icy crown by Amanda Lovelace, ladybookmad, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

I just recently finished the last book in the series. The books don’t have to be read in order- you can read them as stand-alones, but I personally preferred them in series format. These books are simple and easy reads- you can finish one in just about a day. I originally intended to use the books as ‘palate cleansers’ between some heavier reading material, but I was actually pleasantly surprised! It is typical run-of-the-mill, feel-good prose, but Lovelace has a style of writing that makes even simple phrases and writing seem profound. I would definitely recommend this book to any woman feeling down- it really helped me 🙂

-Vaidehi B.