Crawfish, crayfish, or mudbugs. Whatever you call them, the writer of this poem doesn't like them.

One student explores their online persona and the lasting importance of conscientious social media practices.

From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem explores the aftermath and lasting impacts of school shootings.

Peek into the mind of a student who considers artistic influences in her life.

This narrative calls us to see the world through the perspectives of others.

This bilingual poem explores the harrowing story of a boy working while in school to save his mother.

A young writer reconciles their sexuality with the beliefs of their community.

When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.

Smells swirl about a student walking around an ice cream shop.

A compilation of letters written by three students across one city filled with thoughts on books, sports, music, family, and musings on Valentine’s Day.

A powerful poem that lifts up Black women.

From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem reminds activists that "to change everything, we need everyone."

A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.

A student reflects on the fear and wonder of becoming a mother.

The power of public speaking shines through this student's memoir.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student describes how essential workers are the pulse of New York, fueling the city’s hope.

A trans student reflects on their desire to be male.

This poem uses analogies to describe all of the pieces of the writer's personal history.

A student finds her wings in unexpected places in this piece about the transition to college.

In this poem, a student reflects on identity.

This poem gives insight to what it's like growing up Black in America.

A student recalls their journey on how they discovered their LGBTQIA+ identity.

In an exchange of letters, three students across one city share stories about where they came from and the places that matter most.

Black strength, beauty, and pride soar in this poem as a student discusses overcoming brutality and discrimination.

A poet relates her experience as a queer woman in the closet to a peacock in the zoo.

A student describes how volunteering saved him from his online prison.

This poem personifies Earth as a mother coping with the brutalities of climate change.

A student describes their shark like imaginary friend.

A freshman describes their first day of school on their own.

In this essay, a student threads their identity across cultures, histories, and places, engaging with legacies of violence and the movement of people.

A powerful poetic piece about the experience of being Black in America.

A student reflects on his life, stemming from the life of his father.

A student recounts the epic highs and lows of high school track and cross country.

A student recalls how he was able to take charge and turn his life around.

A story about how Marcus becomes Marcela.

This poem offers a very-real answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A poem about the complexity of love exchanged during the holidays.

In this public narrative, a student makes the case for creating community change by building youth centers in her neighborhood.

Full of exquisite imagery, this poem explores the idea of second chances.

A memoir that questions the idea of home and how it changes with time.

In this compelling poem, the author navigates her relationship with America as a young African-American woman.

A student shares how they've uplifted their community.

A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.

A student tells the story of how his family has influenced his life.

This poem uses a fundamental poetry technique, repetition, to share the writer's future plans.

A student reflects on her origins to deconstruct social borders and seize her boundless future.

A bilingual poem that expresses the love of one's culture and people

This student’s powerful piece reveals the essence of racial injustice.

A student looks back on their first day of kindergarten and how they've changed.

A beautiful ode to home and self.

The written word is a powerful tool, and this poem shares a few reasons why the author continues to write.

This student reveals the mysterious origin story of the king cake. Hint: it includes Big Freedia, DJ Chicken Wing, and a massive party.

A poem about staying true to yourself during a challenging transition

Two students across one city bond by writing letters to each other about the people they love most.

A student reflects on the memories they made while backpacking.

A poet identifies with a trapped ocelot at the zoo.

In this heartfelt exchange of letters, two students bond over food, videos games, and some scary adventures.

A bilingual "I am" poem filled with conviction and courage.

A student reflects on memories of home and what binds her special community together.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares how essential workers’ courage and compassion center her during these hectic times.

In this poem, an echoing question strikes a chord and reveals the tragic loss held within systemic injustice.

A student is lifted up by the dance of her ancestors.

A poet demonstrates their devotion to love.

A student writes to a grandmother she never met.

A poet sets the stage to showcase her reflections on being trans.

Even though we may look different, we remain united with one another.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, 10th grader Tala asks essential workers what motivates them to keep going during these difficult times, offering her own views on hope for the future.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a senior at South High School in Minneapolis offers words of support to healthcare workers across the country, including her own mom.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares gratitude for the dedication of nurses and gives “credit where credit is due.”

A poem to the next president of the U.S. demanding change and advocating for transgender rights.

In this poem, metaphor is used to describe who the narrator is.

A poet speaks out as a voice for change and all those who cannot speak.

A student compellingly argues that immigrants deserve respect and to be free of discrimination.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a sophomore at South High School in Minneapolis gives thanks to Children’s Hospital employees.

In this poem, a student describes their family origins with an intimate point of view

In this narrative, the author uses vibrant language to explore their identity, in all its complexity, through different landscapes.

A student reflects on a small moment and single sacrifice that transformed her outlook on giving.

A writer implores people to get outside and touch grass because you never know what you might find!

This creative narrative imagines how the coronavirus views humanity during the pandemic.

A student spins through space and a treasure trove of memories in this poem.

A student recounts separation with a beloved friend through a nostalgic lens.

From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem expresses the realization that a cage is not the only obstacle to a bird's freedom.

Liner notes that showcase the meaning and musicality of the Jimmy Ruffin song “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”

A neighborhood ode filled with sights and sounds of the poet's street.

A student explores the paradox of how technology is used amongst teenagers.

The stunning and vulnerable poem processes feelings of loss, grief, and hope for the future.

A student considers realistic happy endings and the representation of LGBTQIA+ youth through the analysis of two webcomics.

A student explores gratitude and love through sharing food.

In this poem, a student reflects on their roots and their desire to grow.

A family interview reveals a mother's painful past and shines a light on her persistence.

A student reflects on how her relationship's with her parents has influenced her life.

In this poem, a student’s experiences in two countries meld together as she seeks out her true home.

This piece reminds us that a smile is not always what it seems.

In this memoir, the narrator recounts the struggle of being the bigger person in a very small space.

Living in the digital world can create unwanted attachments, as one student laments.

An author reflects on their correspondence with their friend from the past.

Discover what one student experiences when they tuck their phone away for a whole day.

Using dialogue and detailed description, this poet investigates whose voices are heard and whose voices are left behind when injustice occurs.

This poet rejects judgement based on the color of one’s skin.

A poet imagines a better and more harmonious world.

This poem uses metaphors and similes to explore many dualities of the narrator's life.

A poem for lovers of love and the moon.

In this poem, a student reflects on their first encounter with forced assimilation.

This creative short horror piece explores the mysteries and danger of a night in the woods.

This poem takes an honest look at two sides of the writer's culture.

Through redefining a label, a student reclaims a piece of their identity.

In this public narrative, a student illustrates the hardships his uncle has faced to argue for a path to citizenship.

A student compares themself to the place they live, New Orleans, as both evolve through great obstacles.

This personal narrative addresses the struggles of students graduating high school during the pandemic.

Two students write to each other about where they came from, what they love, and a few mishaps along the way in an exchange of letters.

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.

This narrative piece contemplates the struggle of immigrants during the pandemic.