unanswered
i really don't get prejudice
i mean just the concept of it
how could you hate someone borne
by the same earth, the same fire
how could you explain someone else's life
as being worth less air than your own
i really don't get prejudice
i mean just the concept of it
how could you hate someone borne
by the same earth, the same fire
how could you explain someone else's life
as being worth less air than your own
The United States of America
as seen on the binding documents, on formal things
USA
as said by random people you know
The US
as told by your parents
America
I write longhand.
Journal, pencil, print.
Letters melding together in a harmony on the page.
Graphite scratching the paper, pencil sharpening every 5 minutes.
Lined paper, perfect for doodles and random thoughts.
Visual Art
Deadline
Imagine a desert. Draw, paint, or use any other visual arts medium to make an image of this desert.
Writing
Deadline
Valentine’s Day celebrates love––any kind of love. Think about all the people you love and the different kinds of love in your life. Friends, family, pets, etc. Write an ode to them to celebrate the love you all have for one another.
Writing
Deadline
Shoes carry us everywhere we go, through everything we experience, even shaping our feet as we grow. Write a short story from the shoes’ perspective or an ode to your shoes.
Visual Art
Deadline
With your artist's eye, observe, interpret, and create. Choose a subject — an everyday object, a person, a landscape — and give yourself time and space to study it. Use the medium of your choice to convey the subject the way you uniquely see it.
Writing
The fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis have induced fury, disbelief, sadness, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. This isn't America. Is it? Share your thoughts.
Writing
Poetry steps in where uncertainty and chaos take root. Poetry lifts us up and moves us forward with determination. Explore these poems of hope and resilience. If you are inspired, share your own.
Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to our Annual Appeal, and for the messages of support and encouragement for the YWP community, such as this one: "We're sending you mountains of strength and abundant appreciation for everything!"
Congratulations to Goldenrose, the January 2026 award winner in YWP's monthly Tomorrow Project contest!
Vermont writers: You could become the 2026 Vermont Youth Poet Laureate!