Morgan's poem

Allusion

She sits

on the bench

too close to him.

 

He turns to see

a girl,

reading a book.

Pretty hair.

Pretty face.

Generous figure.

 

She feels his eyes on her

and looks away.

After a moment

she finds the courage

to meet his gaze,

but he’s already faded away

staring into the empty space

before him.

 

She watches him watch nothing.

Skinny.

Dreaming eyes.
A nice smile.

 

He looks back at her.

Suddenly insecure again,

she turns back to her book, Fahrenheit 451.

How like a mirror, her face.

 Impossible; for how many people did you know

who refracted your own light to you?

Words tumble over words.

Nothing makes sense.

She pulls out her phone instead,

searching for simplicity,

and catches sight of her reflection in the screen.

 

Fat--

Three chins from this angle.

Blotchy pink cheeks.

 

He’d never want to be with someone

like her.

 

Nobody would.

 

He was so lucky

to be skinny

and good-looking.

 

He watches his marred reflection

in a puddle on the sidewalk.

skin and bones.

too pale,

even portrayed in water.

 

The girl next to him

is so lucky.

She’s got a figure and rosy cheeks.

 

Nobody would ever want him.

How could they?

 

They spend so long

criticizing their reflections

that they never bother to say hello

and ignore the open window

of a new friendship

and instead

hate

themselves.

 

 

My poem from last year

Last year I won first place in the adult category at the West Roxbury Library poetry contest.  The them was unexpected. 

SOULMATES

 

by

 

Nina Kallen

The first, tangy taste of the apple

 

I didn’t expect to like it.

 

I didn’t expect you to be such a pushover,

A whiner, a hider

 

Although Lilith tried to warn me.

 

I didn’t expect to like Lilith.

 

The snake liked her.

 

I didn’t expect to like the snake.

 

The snake said it wasn’t fair he only got to see her

Every other weekend

And on holidays that hadn’t been invented yet. 

 

I wished he would spend more time with her

And give you and me more time

Alone in paradise. 

 

But Lilith was off trying to find herself in the world

While I was trying to find myself in you.

 

I worried that I got your rib

But not your heart.

 

 

You swore that Lilith wasn’t made out of that,

Wasn’t made out of you at all,

Was just mud as far as you were concerned.

 

I couldn’t see inside you anymore.

 

I wanted to know,

To really know.

 

And the snake was bored

And was always causing trouble

--that was just his way--

And the apple was there

 

And I wanted to know.

 

I thought my head had split open

Like your rib cage,

Except instead of a piece of me being ripped out

The universe was being shoved in.

 

A lot of it faded after that brief flash.

But for a moment I saw it all.

 

Planets,

This planet,

Oceans,

The crawling things on the beaches,

Creatures faded,

And not yet born,

Clay tinted red,

And in the awful mix,

You, and Lilith.

 

I saw

You never really liked her,

You sniveling thing. 

 

 

 

I half hoped you wouldn’t be tempted,

And I would bring the apple to her

And she would show me more --

The whole world she had traveled.

 

The snake said it’s surprising how I settled.

 

I miss him.

 

But he got what he wanted.

He’s off with Lilith now. 

 

And there’s you and me in our

McMansion as big as a world,

And the kids are always killing each other,

And you toil and I labor.

 

It’s unexpected that I like it.

 

Most days.

 

Creation.

 

You. 

 

My poem

I won an honorable mention for the adult category at the West Roxbury Library poetry contest.  The theme this year is "Missing pieces."  Here's my poem (although I can't get the spacing right in the blog). 

MISSING PIECES

 

Nina Kallen

 

Nadia   I did not always dream about this day.   If I had, I would have known, My mother was supposed to help me choose A dress And the snotty lady on Newbury Street Would not have sneered at me. Ha! I showed her when she tried to rip me off. Me! I think I made her cry.   I would have known Weddings are supposed to be catered. You’re supposed to find a rabbi Who knows what he’s doing. Your venue (“venue” -- I snort) Should have bathrooms, Not portapotties.   Nevertheless:   It was a fine June day Under a white tent. Food from the potluck Overflowed the tables. The rabbi showed up. Guests snuck into the house To use the bathroom.   Sometimes ignorance Is a mean sort of wisdom. Sometimes you grasp in the dark And children emerge. Sometimes you are doing your damnedest Just to get through the day And you find you are living your own life In your own way   And it is good enough.

Aidan   I first saw you through a window. I told a friend I would marry you.   It was a perfect day. You helped me find a suit. I still have it. Why would I need more than one?   We got married on a farm. They planted flowers for us.  The tent company was amazing. Some people I know set up the food. My friend performed the ceremony.   The hurricane came during our honeymoon. At the last minute we found a pink hotel To keep us safe.   I never really understand Your looks of despair, Of desperation, Of disdain.   Why don’t you give me more credit?   I work hard, As hard as can be expected. It is not easy having kids, And a job, And you.    I am proud of my life’s work. The kids, the job, And you.   And, although hurricanes come, I am living my own life In my own way   And it is good enough.

Maia's poem

Maia won first place for her age group in the West Roxbury Library poetry contest.  The theme of the contest this year is "Missing Pieces."  This is her poem: 

HOPE

 

by

 

Maia

 

 

 

There’s something missing in my heart.

Something small?

No . . .

Something big.

What is it?

A pushing pulling laughing piece

That I cannot find

Mocking me, screaming to try harder.

I try.

But still

It hides

Like it wants me

To

Feel

Pain

Worse than I already do.

Come out,

I call

But it won’t

Budge.

Why?

When you hope, things can go wrong.

Isn’t hope supposed to be happy

Strong and caring?

I hope for hope and happiness, but . . .

A piece

Of hope

Lies beneath me.

Morgan's poem

Morgan once again won first prize for her age group in the West Roxbury poetry contest.  The theme of the contest this year is "Missing Pieces."  This is Morgan's poem:


 

DIALOGUE

 

by Morgana

 

“James?”

 

A girl’s voice

resonates from the corner

of the room.

 

She is crying

and afraid

 

. . . for no particular reason,

but tears always seem

to make things more dramatic.

 

“Mira? You okay?”

 

The boy rushed to the shaking shoulders

of his best friend

and held her tight

because

he wasn’t exactly sure

what else to do.

 

And as his secure arms fastened

around Mira’s neck

her worries melted away

to reveal

 

Her love and admiration for

the way he was able to comfort her

too easily.

 

James awkwardly

pulled himself away from her

 

But Mira watched him

let go gracefully.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Her two words

brought light to

his concerned face

and then

with bright red ears

he leaned over and kissed her--

just on the cheek, of course--

 

And sat next to her

and looked away

 

Until the next chapter,

in which we discover that

he already has a girlfriend.

Maia's poem

Maia's poem for the West Roxbury Library Poetry contest.  The theme of the contest this year is "Unexpected."  To get the full impact you really need to hear her read it, with excellent sound effects. 

UNEXPECTED

 

by

 

Maia Frost

 

 

Is it unexpected when bedbugs

Bite you while you’re asleep?

Or monsters jump out of your closet?

Or when  your little brother attacks you from behind?

 

Are those unexpected?

 

Or is it unexpected when you flip a page

And it rips?

Or when you fall out of a tree?

Or when someone asks you if you want a job?

 

Are those unexpected?

 

Is it unexpected when your laptop falls asleep?

Or when your cat comes out of nowhere?

Or when your pencil breaks in half?

 

Are those unexpected?

 

Unexpected

 

Morgan's poem

Morgan received an honorable mention for her age group in the West Roxbury Library Poetry contest for her poem "Namesake."  The theme of the contest this year is "Unexpected."  This is her third year in a row receiving an honorable mention or first place in her age group. 

Namesake

by

Morgana

“You are a clever woman, Morgana. But there is much you have left to learn,”

 Says Merlin.

(Excaliber, 1981.)

Morgana le Fay then replies,

With a sarcastic tone,

“Indeed.”

 

Here, I wonder:

 

Does she truly not believe

That there is no more

For her to learn?

 

Is this truly

The woman

 I was named after?

 

The woman

Who has a starring role in so many books, movies, poems,

Is the same woman

Who does not believe in learning?

 

Merlin,

Ignoring the sarcasm,

Says,

“Indeed.”

Right back at her.

“You have yet to learn…

That true love,

Like true friendship,

Is one of life’s sweetest miracles.”

 

Excaliber ends there, on that dreadful note,

saying that Morgana le Fay

Is oblivious

To the only things worth living for.

 

“You have much you have yet to learn,”

Says Merlin.

 

Is this truly

The woman

 I was named after?

 

I know Merlin’s lesson.

 

Don’t I?