Poetry is a form of art that connects people across cultures and generations. As a way of expression and communication, poetry passes the barriers of language and ideology. In honor of National Poetry Month, students volunteered their splendid works of poetry.

Senior Nathan Beard says his poem is about his experience in life and how he’s struggled to fit in.

“I feel cursed at times, invisible to all, and I just want to have that closed group of friends I can trust,” Beard said. “At least for the time being for me, that seems near impossible”

Fallen God is all you see

Chained for all eternity

Never loved, invisible to all

Spent his life with his back against the wall

One day he will find what he seeks

To find people who will let him speak

For now, cursed until those days

He will walk this world astray

Soccer player Drew Welch explains that his poem is about a heart-broken man abandoned by a woman with whom he remains in love.

“She secretly still loves him too, but she is too afraid to return to him, for it may never be the same as it was before,” Welch said.

Heartstrings

Her heart, one side, his another; although

On the same page, they lay so far apart,

Spaces of infinite depth dark.

From heartstrings to more, Omega

Had strength that tore, Alpha at the helm.

Bestowed a lead, a clue, only to flee,

Leave be, for the body’s guitar strings

Once strummed, muted by a palm.

Cut, replaced, had to be rewound,

Omega began playing chords.

Major for thee, minor for thou,

Melody once sweet, soft, stable,

Now for another; a new song.

Alpha, contorted, cast aside.

Woe and hurt held by fermata,

Fate’s conductor’s passion firmly

Directing his everlong, enduring,

Ensuing note of the minor key.

Coda; il finale; yet the

Piece continues its groan of

Sorrow, for there is a repeat

At the measure’s end,

Forever caught in the tandem.

Alpha, Omega, same page,

Different songs from the heart,

Antipodally positioned, yet

Theirs beg the contrary

An anonymous student wrote this poem dedicated to a friend from the past, who she was close to at the time.

“We always had so much fun together and she reminded me of a wildflower; she was beautiful and vibrant,” the author said.

You are a wildflower in a field full of dandelions

The Sun shines his lemon-yellow light over your petals because He loves the view

But now they’re left in the dark

because the dandelions outstretched their oppressive stems to loom over you

They said you were nothing but a wilted weed, meant to shrivel up and die

But even in their best health, the dandelion’s colors could never hope to be as bright as yours

Oh, how they lied

The truth was that they envied wildflowers

You were the kind of flower that blooms in the early morning of Spring

And the honeybees would scatter your pollen and sing

The kind of flower that a man picks from a meadow to give to his wife; 

vibrant petals catching his eye and reminding him of her beauty

So go find the Sun, for the honeybees and men in love will be lost without you

A student who wishes to be known as A. M. hopes her poem reaches people in a state similar to hers and reassures them that they’re not alone.

Dear, Alarm clock.

 Everyday I am awoken by you. I’m awoken to a paralyzing realization that the peaceful slumber and tranquil dreams I have are just that — they are just dreams. Never real, as much as I wish them to be. 

As I hear your wretched screams fill my ears, the painful reality of my life sets in. My escape has vanished and in return I’m confronted with an excruciating yet dull ache in my chest. I’ve gotten so much sleep yet my soul is tired. But all I can do is stare hopelessly, knowing that all I can do is watch the pieces of my life fall apart. And without a doubt, tonight’s sleep will be just as great, until I hear your wretched scream and the painful reality again returns to wreak havoc upon my tired soul.

A second anonymous student volunteered a poem she wrote about her favorite place — her bed.

Cool, yet warm,
Not only in temperature, but feeling
Lay alone, swallowed by black,
Surrounded by warmth
Buried under blankets,
Suffocated by pillows
Swaddled like a newborn;
A content child again
Begging for night to last a little longer,
Stay awake to savor what little is left.
Dreading the orange light of dawn,
Passing cars’ headlights break through the dark,
Silence never could be so intriguing
As it is with heavy eyelids and warm skin
Racing thoughts may be cut off,
Summoned with the melodies of bird calls
That come with the emergence of the sun
Clock ticking, A/C humming
Silence broken by soothing sounds
Alone, not lonely

Poetry is used as an expression of emotions and thoughts. It is a freeing art form which has the ability to connect people all over the world. For National Poetry Month, read some poetry or ask your friends and teachers about their favorite poems.