Hi everyone! This week I spoke with Spoopy_Mouse about his poem, "For My Older Sister," our siblings, books we've read and are hoping to read, writing short stories, and finding meter in poetry. I hope you enjoy!

Also, amaryllis and I will be hosting another Oh Snap! YWP Online Open Mic on Oct. 16th at 1pm Eastern! We'd love to have you join us for a fun afternoon of sharing writing and talking about all sorts of topics! Send me or amaryllis a message on the site if you have any questions and be sure to sign up!

-Iris

FOR MY OLDER SISTER
By Spoopy_Mouse

You were brisk with your walking
Ignoring Oregon, and all unsaid
Before the goodbye
I fell behind admiring a slug
Knelt to let it crawl across my palm
I imagined your toys
Dusty, in our attic of ancient things

Hi everyone! This week I spoke with infinitelyinfinite3 about her essay, "Insecure," getting our licenses soon, the responsibilities of growing up, being scared of dialogue, losing friendships and having crushes, and Emily Dickinson. 
I hope you enjoy! 
-Iris 

INSECURE
By infinitelyinfinite3

I turn fifteen in exactly sixteen days. That, in and of itself, is terrifying. Difficult to explain, really, but I am a writer — that is my job — to explain, to entertain, to engage. And so, here I stand, holding my innermost pains out to you all. 

Hi everyone! This week I spoke with liebeslied about her poem, "Goldfinch," thinking about love and falling in love with strangers, "The Little Prince," and writing for yourself instead of others.
Also, amaryllis and I are going to be hosting another Oh Snap! Online Open Mic on September 18th at 1pm Eastern Time. Join us to share your writing, listen to other cool writers share their pieces, and have random discussions about anything we think of! The sign-up is here and on the front page of YWP, and we'd love to see you there!
I hope you enjoy this episode!
-Iris

Hi everyone!

This week I spoke with Geri about her poem, "Truly Alone," feeling lonely during the pandemic, experimenting with poetry forms, our love for words, libraries, and writing that we adore. I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Also, amaryllis and I will be hosting another series of Oh Snap! Online Open Mics from September through May! Check out the front page of YWP to see the announcement and sign up sheet for September.

We'd love to have you join us for a fun afternoon of sharing our writing and discussing random topics! 
- Iris

Truly Alone
By Geri

I wrote this during the Writing With Reuben workshop. Really fun workshop!

I have learned what it means to be lonely. 

Staring at my phone screen,
letters all in blue, 
silently begging for a reply. 

Hi everyone! This week I spoke with Coraline Hart about her poem, "Lemonade," (see below), phonesthetics (words that sound pretty), summer and music, seeing houses we used to live in, horror movies, and the best bookstore in the world. 
I hope you enjoy!
- Iris
LEMONADE
By Coraline Hart
The sour taste sizzles on your tongue,
sweetness stings your taste buds
hot summer beams on us when we're young
ice cools the drink so it suds
the sweet and sour brings back splashes
of sunburned, chlorine soaked children
not thinking about incoming classes
the couple play a tune for the steamed night
while sweet and sour collide
lightning bugs glow bright
in hopes that one day she'll be my bride
That's what I think of summer serenade
whenever I drink lemonade 

        time wrinkles with no warning        i was 5 years old running through sprinklers 
gleefully staining my mouth bright red with cherry popsicles        in a blink i was 10 years old
        weaving threads for friendship bracelets        and perfecting my signature
i read a book         and i was 15,        drawing angles of eyeliner and pressing my nose
        against the mirror        because if i get close enough i might find out who i am
i drank a cup of coffeee and now i'm almost 18        it feels like time is laughing hysterically
        in the corner        cackling that life is happening to me        i forgot how easy
living was supposed to be after i        lost friends and secrets i was supposed to keep       i'll turn
       to see who called my name and i'll be at my graduation        wearing a cap and gown and 
stole and medallions and cords and tassels        standing on the grass next to the 

Hi everyone! This week I spoke with dogpoet about her poem, "Grocery shopping," songwriting and screenwriting, using poetry to express our emotions, open mics, road trips, and our love for books that understand teenagers.
I hope you enjoy!
-Iris 
 

Hi everyone! This week I spoke with El about her poem, "I Should Probably Play More Sports," feeling different in the summer, Midnight Sun, writing books in our dreams, space and astronomy, and college.
I hope you enjoy!
-Iris
 

like vanilla bean freckles on your cinnamon hands, i followed the constellations left by saffron strands. i drank lattes every morning when you were gone. i measured the coffee grounds and poured steaming water over the parchment, frothed milk and let it slip into a mug. i sprinkled nutmeg on top, added a stripe of caramel, maybe. honey or cardamom or sugar if i was feeling fancy. i held those mugs so gently, placed them so lightly on the wooden nightstand. like chamomile and rose petals steeped for hours, i stained myself with memories. of you, of driving in the middle of the night, of reaching for the moonlight even when it disappeared behind the dense clouds. i let you have my leather jacket. i stuffed notes in the pockets and waited for you to unfurl them like roses, yet you never sent a reply. i tell these stories to your ghost: the days when you were away, when the shadows came too quickly, when time and mugs fell from my hands as if i was made of feathers.