Teens
September 4, 2019
Teen Blog: Poetry
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.