Poetry

the epitome of written art: emotionally fluid, yet wholly up to interpretation

it started with pneumonia in california

Poignant prose relaying the tainted history of lacking attention towards LGBTQ health equity – “Because you are human no matter what they say / sex; your body; your heart was never the problem / And the young men will never be forgotten”

Nicole Wang ’22

fear

Chilling poetry conveying the fear of a democracy at risk – “a fear of a repeat of the four year nightmare in which i wake up and check my phone not for “good / morning” texts, but for news of death”

Bhakti Patel ’22

from my family to yours

A message on the criticality of professing one’s voice, from my immigrant history to your present day freedoms: “Exercise you vote…for this election, and every hereafter. For yourself and a legacy yet to be written.”

Saanvi Nayar ’22

I like dressing up

Ananya Beher

An emotionally winded art form describing the the paradox of configuring identity and acceptance: “mom told me that i should have / changed but 6-year-old me asked, / ‘why? you can apply make-up.”

dear brown girls,

Bhakti Patel ’22

A free-verse poem relating the struggle of cultural intersection in art form: “(because fitting in is all we can hope for, because different is punished everywhere) / wait until you learn to love yourself
/ when you learn that you were simply the result of a collision of cultures”

mud & water

Saanvi Nayar ’22

Poetry describing the paradox of colorism and cultural embrace: “as the bleeding sunshine bellows my name / i regard the lecturing mindset of my skin  / (too dark, too dirty, not pretty)”

your america

Saanvi Nayar ’22

A poem evaluating the missing perspective of a WOC in America’s white-washed history: “when your america was founded / my kind had no place on the ballot // when your america was founded / my stance had no representation in history”

the pursuit of happiness

Bhakti Patel ’22

A beautifully passionate poem fiercely criticizing the glorification of our founding fathers: “forgive me, america, for  i am not your poster child / i am the rioters in the streets, screaming for the change that we need / because when thomas jefferson penned ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ / he did not mean for it to apply to sally hemmings”

Prejudice & Judgement

Rohan Lokanadham ’23

Deeply personal, this piece is a raw retelling of shame – shame in sexuality, in identity, in pride. With strength comes frustration, demanding change in self-love and the cultural ideals of society as a whole.

()

Yasmine Patel ’23

A poem encapsulating Pride through standing as an ally with the LGBTQ+ community. Recognizing resilience when countered with suppression, we stand as one.

aim for the head

Bhakti Patel ’22

A poem of resilient defiance in the face of the patriarchy and oppression. Using personal hurt coupled with strength to dissect the cultural shift of support for the LGBTQ+ community, her words are piercingly riveting, encapsulating the elegant beauty of pain.

unravelled, sewn again

Saanvi Nayar ’22

A poem inspired by generations of systemic oppression and the recurring strength that perpetuates a movement for justice and equality. It serves as a metaphorical take on the exhaustive waves of anger and defeat, yet the tsunamis of unity and motivation that consistently follow and persist.