Grade 11
PoetryWritingAmerica is toxic to me.
It’s a relationship I wish I could escape.
However, it’s holding me hostage.
Stockholm syndrome gets the best of me –
I want to trust America, but I can’t.
Overall, our relationship is unhealthy:
It’s clear America hates us.
The relationship status remains unchanged.
It is clear as day that America has a problem with African-Americans.
We cry out for help, yet America still closes its ears
To drown out our cries.
America, why can’t you just see beyond my skin color?
Why can’t you just see me for me?
I am more than just my skin.
I am a composition of brain, beauty,
Strength, elegance and so much more.
You don’t want to see that.
America you have closed your eyes
And turned a blind eye to the
Blood that we shed unwillingly for years.
The blood that stained chains, shackles
Whips, ropes, the black boots and uniforms
Of policemen.
It is obvious you are threatened by our strong willpower.
You cannot simply handle what we give you.
All we ask is to just listen to our sorrows,
Hear us out, that’s the least you can do.
America you’re toxic for me. . . for us.
by Jennifer Alcocer, The 826 Dallas Project
This personal narrative addresses the struggles of students graduating high school during the pandemic.
by Tammy Fong, 826NYC
A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.
by Sian Laing
When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.
by Elsy M.E., Grade 11, 826 Valencia
A poet imagines a better and more harmonious world.
by Lucas Hu, 826 Boston
A poem about staying true to yourself during a challenging transition
by Joanne H, 826 Valencia
In this poem, a student’s experiences in two countries meld together as she seeks out her true home.
by Justis Porter, age 16, 826 Boston
A neighborhood ode filled with sights and sounds of the poet's street.
by Leydi Di Villanueva, The 826 Dallas Project
This creative narrative imagines how the coronavirus views humanity during the pandemic.
by Sergio M, 826 Valencia
This piece reminds us that a smile is not always what it seems.
by Terra C., Grades 10-11, 826NYC
A student recalls their journey on how they discovered their LGBTQIA+ identity.
by Steysi Hailee, 826LA
A student reflects on a small moment and single sacrifice that transformed her outlook on giving.
by Augustus Griffith Jr., 826 National
From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem explores the aftermath and lasting impacts of school shootings.
by Keyshana, Grade 11, 826CHI
Black strength, beauty, and pride soar in this poem as a student discusses overcoming brutality and discrimination.
by Jizelle Villegas, Grade 12, 826 Dallas Project
The stunning and vulnerable poem processes feelings of loss, grief, and hope for the future.
by Maria, Grade 12, 826 Boston
In this public narrative, a student makes the case for creating community change by building youth centers in her neighborhood.
by Earl Williams Jr., The 826 Dallas Project
A powerful poetic piece about the experience of being Black in America.
by Riti Shrestha, 826NYC
In this poem, metaphor is used to describe who the narrator is.
by Salma Khalif, 826 MSP
A powerful poem that lifts up Black women.
by Oriel, 826NYC
In this poem, an echoing question strikes a chord and reveals the tragic loss held within systemic injustice.
by Ryan, Grade 12, 826 Boston
In this public narrative, a student illustrates the hardships his uncle has faced to argue for a path to citizenship.
by Jordan, 826 New Orleans
Crawfish, crayfish, or mudbugs. Whatever you call them, the writer of this poem doesn't like them.
by Rockelle Rodd, Grade 11, 826NYC
This poem uses analogies to describe all of the pieces of the writer's personal history.
by Soraya, 826NYC
This student’s powerful piece reveals the essence of racial injustice.
by Ryker, 826michigan
Liner notes that showcase the meaning and musicality of the Jimmy Ruffin song “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”
by Jazlyn Moses, 826 National
One student explores their online persona and the lasting importance of conscientious social media practices.
by Bianca Morcho, 826 MSP
A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.
by Junaynah R., Grade 11, 826NYC
Full of exquisite imagery, this poem explores the idea of second chances.
by Vanessa Ramon-Ibarra, 826DC
Living in the digital world can create unwanted attachments, as one student laments.
by Julianna Cruz, 826 Dallas Project
This narrative piece contemplates the struggle of immigrants during the pandemic.
by Sharoya Bracey, 826NYC
In this memoir, the narrator recounts the struggle of being the bigger person in a very small space.
by Melody Marcano, 826 Boston
In this poem, a student reflects on their roots and their desire to grow.
by Raheem, 826 New Orleans
A student compares themself to the place they live, New Orleans, as both evolve through great obstacles.
by Michaiah Anderson, The 826 Dallas Project
In this poem, a student describes their family origins with an intimate point of view
by Samuel Wang, Grade 10, 826NYC
A poem about the complexity of love exchanged during the holidays.
by Sarah X. Age 18, 826Boston
A rousing public narrative from an author coming to terms with their identity as a young Chinese American woman and what they represent: the community of Boston's Chinatown.
by Shayne Williams
Discover what one student experiences when they tuck their phone away for a whole day.
by Jonas K., 826 National
A student explores the paradox of how technology is used amongst teenagers.
by Alexis G., Grade 11
In this narrative, the author uses vibrant language to explore their identity, in all its complexity, through different landscapes.
by George S., Grade 11, 826 Boston
A writer implores people to get outside and touch grass because you never know what you might find!
by Johnny Vasquez, 826 MSP
A family interview reveals a mother's painful past and shines a light on her persistence.
by Sally Phan, 826 Boston
A memoir that questions the idea of home and how it changes with time.
by Corazón, 826 New Orleans
In this essay, a student threads their identity across cultures, histories, and places, engaging with legacies of violence and the movement of people.
by Maya M., Grade 11, Newburg, OR
A student reflects on the memories they made while backpacking.
by Izzy T., 826 Valencia
A student reflects on memories of home and what binds her special community together.
by Jahruwach Hamilton, 826NYC
In this rousing poem, a student asserts her strength and worth as a woman.
by Kayla Wayne, Grade 11, 826NYC
In this poem, a student reflects on their first encounter with forced assimilation.
by Katya Torres, The 826 Dallas Project
This bilingual poem explores the harrowing story of a boy working while in school to save his mother.
by Jesus Sanchez, The 826 Dallas Project
This creative short horror piece explores the mysteries and danger of a night in the woods.
Kenya G., 17, 826LA
A poet relates her experience as a queer woman in the closet to a peacock in the zoo.
by Numan Khan, age 16, 826 Boston
A bilingual "I am" poem filled with conviction and courage.
by Jeremy Hsiao, 826 National
From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem reminds activists that "to change everything, we need everyone."
bookmark