Apply to be the National Youth Poet Laureate!
| Calling young poets! This February, poets ages 13-19 are invited to apply to be the 2024 New York State Youth Poet Laureate. Please help us spread the word! There are just 2 weeks left to apply! Deadline: Feb. 29th.APPLY NOW! The application is easy: young poets submit 3 poems and complete a simple online form. The New York State (NYS) Youth Poet Laureate Program aims to identify young writers and leaders committed to creating change through civic engagement and poetic excellence. T&W is partnering with Urban Word on the Youth Poet Laureate program in New York State. Along with the official title and a cash prize of $500, the NYS Youth Poet Laureate gets both high-level performance and learning opportunities and the chance to apply to be the National Youth Poet Laureate. They will join a community of other talented young poets, including Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate (2017), who read her poetry at the 2021 Presidential inauguration! APPLY FEBRUARY 1 – 29, 2024 Read Rules & EligibilityAPPLY NOW |
The Inside of The Energy Drink (Screenplay in Progress) By: Jesus L. Diaz
EXT. Roadside — night
We see a figure holding a large BACKPACK by its top handle, hastily walking down a dimly lit ROAD. His feet are touching the ground in a rapid pace, as if to try to escape from some unseen figure. This is BAYLEAF (17) It’s dark and cold out, at least 8 PM. The man is walking with one foot in the grass and another foot on the asphalt, barely able to keep balance. THE TALLER GRASS next to him begins to move and shift, it’s a windy night out, too windy to be moving out like this. Next to him, We see a figure with a tall and slim form wearing a horse mask, this is HORSEFACE.
bayleaf
One step…two-step…three step… I am so close. What if in my own idea’s I can imagine something for my comfort. Can I take comfort in myself?
horseface
What are you talking about?
bayleaf
This can be made easier, easily, really.
horseface
How?
bayleaf
To stop relying on others thoughts for masking, to think my own thought’s and find comfort in them.
horseface
Was that harder for you before?
bayleaf
What would you assume?
horseface
You aren’t stepping correctly.
bayleaf
What?
horseface
The way you step is wrong.
bayleaf
Which part?
horseface
The feet.
We see horseface begin to move closer to bayleaf and point at his shoes, showing how off-putting the presence of feet on two different surfaces are.
bayleaf
How do I fix this?
horseface
If you take a third of a step back, and 1/50 of a step forward, you can catch your balance and stay only on the grass.
bayleaf
That’s confusing. I’m confused, you need to repeat it.
Continue reading “The Inside of The Energy Drink (Screenplay in Progress) By: Jesus L. Diaz”Don’t Cry Don’t Cry Don’t Cry.
By. Jesus L. Diaz
The one time is great,
The alone time counts.
Don’t force yourself to cry.
It’s just for some time.
I’m not I couldn’t be.
By. Jesse Diaz
I’m not hot
I’m not sexy
I’m not sexually attracted to
Can I still be cute?
Can I still be funny?
If I cut do I look better,
Will I look hotter?
No-
Yes-
No-
Yes-
I cut on me for you?
Cut’s?
By. Jesus L. Diaz
Cutting oneself is great
But
Can I cut deeper?
Skin
dried
blood?
No communication?
No problem,
Get Better.
Nothing can make you anxious
You just get sad.
Don.t
by. Jesus L. Diaz
Don’t cry
Just Change.
Just breathe
Don’t blink.
Get better,
love harder?
Can I?
Take better health
get better steps.
You can be okay
he can to
believe if you can
leave if you need to
Work, keep working
do the project, do the dues
just try to be happy
Work towards you.
The Baja Blasting of Meade High
Photographed By: Jesse Diaz
Figure 8
By Jesus L Diaz
Contemplated thorough examination;
Bolstering.
Passing tones,
Passing blankets
Passing clothes.
I’m the Beast.
How do I feast, with her?
It is always 500 days of fall,
An eternal sunshine graved upon.
This streak is melting,
What if it’s love
Is gone forever?
Not yet, it could be,
We might be alright
We could be okay.
Maybe we might just Die.
It can be all okay,
We might be alright,
Let’s Feast.
Feast this good dinner.
Contracted Obligation’s
By: Jesus L. Diaz
When you find me scattered across the field of lilies
Call for me.
You have a contractual obligation to do so
You’ve hurt me.
Deeply I could feel a knife in my chest,
The more I cried the deeper it went.
My love killed me,
And you never knew.
Continue reading “Contracted Obligation’s”
