Neha Vimal, age 13

I was inspired in a WriteGirl workshop by poet Lynne Thompson’s poem using different phrases that don’t really fit together in a traditional way. I wanted to write something that delivered who I am, the bright things and also the kind of shaky negative aspects, and I was really happy with how that came through in this four-liner.

Shards of Me

I am cinnamon brown and veins of fresh mango
I am angry waves carrying ships of dreams down to the ocean floor
I am golden branches of the Gulmohar tree
I am broken glass and bottles of tears