MCA Denver loves teens and celebrates their amazingness, their willingness to take risks, and of course, the cool and unique ways they express themselves creatively. Periodically we like to feature creative works submitted by teens in our community on this blog. Below are recent submissions by E.C. Davis of Aurora, CO, Stephanie Karr of Aurora, CO, and Josiah Antonio Ray Badial of Pueblo, CO.

Lines Composed from a Few Miles Above Sea Level

By E.C. Davis 

12th Grade

So.

You saw the skyline

For the first time

Shooting up above the cement

Sweating cigarette butts

In the heat.

Those mountains were blurred against them

A watery watercolor background

Superimposed against a hard pencil city.

Trying to distract you,

The water shot up from the ground

Like ballerinas

And trees grew suddenly in front of the

Grey monoliths.

You peeked around them

Turned your head and

Twisted until you could see behind the green and the tears of milk.

You stared at that skyline until your eyes

Were numb

And the buildings blocked out everything

But the blue.

E.C. Davis: I wrote this piece in the back lobby of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I was at a day camp. My friend had fallen asleep on the sofa next to me after almost four hours of aimlessly wandering around the exhibits, talking about nothing and everything. I had been hearing some kids who were from the rural parts of Colorado talking about how it was the first time they'd been to Denver, their first time seeing the skyline and being at the museum. I could see the full skyline and the fountains jumping up in front of it, just outside the museum. It was beautiful, and, having lived in Denver all my life, I realized how unique it could be to someone who's never been before. So I wrote this poem, which I guess was loosely inspired by "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" by William Wordsworth. I tried to create the visual effect of a sideways skyline with varying line lengths. I suppose it's a uniquely Denver focused poem, because we have this beautiful city against the big blue skies, so it's personal to me, and I think as a whole to Colorado. 

The Color of Our Blood

By Stephanie Karr 

10th Grade

Skin color

Who knew it meant so much

Even culture is such a major factor

You ain’t even hear no laughter

Ghost boys scatter

All cuz of some hater

The world has become a total disaster

People’s hearts shatter

I know some of y’all can’t relate

You’re living it great

Getting no hate

And that’s not up for debate

Cuz you can walk out late

So get it straight

Because you don’t gotta worry about your fate

Some don’t even make it past the age of eight

You never know if you’ll make it to a certain date

It may not be your fault but change still awaits

Oops! Daddy made a mistake 

It’s fine in this case, it don’t matter if people’s hearts brake

Our society is a disgrace

Color shouldn’t determine your case

How could you look at a killer in the face

And still have the nerve to say 

Not guilty

When the evidence is there 

It’s time to clear the air

Nothing will change until justice is served

People will get what they deserved

Hate should not be transferred

It ain’t right

I can see our future is bright

All you need is to shine some new light

We just need to reunite 

Stephanie: The concept of my poem is based on the failure of equality in our society. My poem is based on police brutality and my point of view on it. I wrote this piece to essentially have my voice heard. 

Farscape

Josiah Antonio Ray Badial 

12th Grade

Josiah: The idea behind this piece is just that it’s the place where things that are forgotten go. It's a place past its time, with sand as its king and wind as its order -- because people like to forget the howling of drought and famine. Everything comes here, eventually. But, it's ruled by monsters, and good things are scarce. Nobody wants to forget the good times, but even the monsters that roam this place get lonely and miss the delights of the known. So, they scheme, and they plot. What about is certain -- to remind the world of what they are, even if it means dooming it.

If you are a teen with something to say or share, we encourage you to submit your artwork with us for a chance to be featured on our teen blog or on the television screen in the Teen Idea Box here at MCA Denver!

Teen admission to the museum is always free, and now when you visit, you can receive a free print or sticker of the newly designed Teens Always Free campaign by artist and former Failure Lab participant, Nia Musiba.