This piece is about a fictional outbreak in 2005 without the usage of smartphones and social media, and speaks about how diseases separate families. I was inspired by the coronavirus outbreak happening now in 2020.
Class of 2020
Taken Out
Often, culture enforces us to make decisions that we don’t want to make for the sake of family reputation.
Fallen Angels
Thank you to the fire inside of me that finally lit and allowed me to speak my truth.
A Moment In History; A Favorite
It’s the little moments that count. This poem is about one of my favorite moments in my history.
Love Yourself; The Touch of Darkness
Oh beautiful rose
stemmed into the ground.
Westside of Harlem/Flower
This poem that I share comes from a familiar place that me and other teenagers experience growing up. I remind myself daily of my self-worth, and like others, I can live my best life and pursue my gift. My voice speaks for many as we take our Place in HerStory!
deeply rooted memories
My piece shows the strength and perseverance of women by using a rose as the subject.
Summer Camp Love Letter
Summer camp carries a particular kind of magic in your life. I wanted to capture the whimsical romance of teenage relationships in this prose poem.
I Wish Love Was Simple
These poems are inspired by my experiences with love. Through writing these pieces I was able to express myself and get closure from the past, which has made me the person that I am today.
Letting Go
This piece is dedicated to the past me who struggled so hard to find her place.
Asian American
This poem is an exercise in claiming my place in history—as a member of a community but also as an individual. It explores some thoughts I frequently have about my Asian-American identity and living in New York.
Thoughts In Train Traffic
When I was told I would have to write an essay about myself as part of my college application I was convinced I couldn’t do it. I had always avoided writing that involved telling my own story, however in the end I was surprised and proud of the outcome.
Agatha and the Naming
“Agatha and the Naming” is the story of me, in a way trying to claim my place in my family’s history. While Agatha’s struggle is name-based, mine is skill- and future-based. She gets to meet her namesake while I still question mine.
Devotion
There has been a time in all of our lives where we’ve placed our significant other above ourselves and our responsibilities. I wanted to show how we as women often lose who we are trying to help someone figure out who they want to be.
Springfield Cemetery
Before I moved, I lived in front of a cemetery for most of my childhood. In one of Girls Write Now’s Friday Night Salons, I remembered the cemetery and thought it would be fun to spin a ghost story about it. Cemeteries are always so spooky!