The following poems explore the possibilities of poetry, and how the medium is able to work in ways that even the most generous prose may not be able to. While prose may limit the author or the reader, poetry offers an expansive, metaphorical landscape where the human condition may be exposed. These three poems by wonderfully creative teens examine friendship, paradox, and self-discovery. 

We simply can’t get over the limitless talent of teens everywhere, and the teens that choose to be a part of MCA Denver! Following each of the poems, we’ve included statements by the teens as to what the poem means to them.

"A Strawberry Macaron Dipped Pas De Deux" by Caroline Caplis 

Rose dipped tulle flies like
an early sunset out West.
Pointe shoes dribble in graceful circles.
A precise prose of suppressed emotion
pushed into a choreographed love letter.

 
The girls fouettè around the room
leaving a shimmering shadow to reflect off the mirror.
Transcending imagination into movement  
cascading curled hair follows with intention, to be sure

 
On stage there is no past:
no tare
or open wounds from yesterday.
No coffee stained front seat,
no unpaid bills.
There are only
soft steps.

Caroline: The form of this poem is an ekphrastic poem. It is inspired by Edgar Degas' painting Dancers In Pink. This piece is meant to expose the paradox between the ballet dancers difficult plight in the world  and the flawless delicacy they bring to the stage.

"sleeping flowers" by Havanna Stegner

you may plant the seeds 
but i will water the flowers

every day
even after winter comes
 

and it’s time for the flowers 
to sleep until spring
 

but i will water the flowers 
everyday
 

and the water will turn to ice 
but i will break the ice
 

and pull the sleeping flowers 
up by the roots

and they will live out the winter days 
resting in a brittle vase
 

until finally
they will awaken no more 
 

Havanna: This poem is about giving and taking, recognizing that being a friend requires more than just 'planting seeds', but also requires regular effort and upkeep.

“Gentle Insanity, I Beg” by Michael Bloise

The nape of your neck is what drives me to 
gentle insanity,
the soft beginnings of stubborn hair that 
crashes across your skull in waves.

The stubble on your chin that refuses to grow 
is that which prompts my nails to dig into my 
forearm, leaving crescent moon scars
that are milky white.
 

The blurry figure I see when I
take off my glasses is that who
coaxes the gentle insanity out of my 
fast beating heart,
wrapping around my neck like a noose.

scattered freckles and
acne under your jawline
colonize your skin, stretch marks acting as 
highways down your back and
across your ribs, ending at rest stops on your thighs.

The breath permanently
caught in my throat is a reminder of 
the gentle insanity which you have 
bestowed upon me and that

there are too many mirrors in the world 
and that every time I happen to look at 
one
you
will
be there so
gentle insanity, I beg 
that you may let me rest. 

 

Michael: I wrote this during a time of really intense self-discovery. Oftentimes writing helps me process emotions and thoughts, and that’s exactly what happened with this poem. Through poetry, and this piece specifically, I was able to not only examine what I was feeling during this very personal moment in my life, but was also able to very seriously consider who I am and who I want to become. I think that the very raw emotion that I felt while writing this is very evident, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

TEENS! Submit your work here for a chance to have it featured on the blog, and/or submit work here to have it featured digitally in our teen space here at MCA Denver!