Ashes

No one died

right?

I wasn't affected

but I am affected.

I know them

their situation

we're good friends

but why is all of this happening in my lifetime?

In our lifetimes?

The politics

the banning

having to protest for ourselves and our rights

now this fire?

Fire,

thought of a fresh start at times

but this?

No

it's worse

no one benefited from this

and I feel terrible

like someone has died

but not quite

and I feel useless

like I can't help

but can I?

How am I supposed to be on Monday

at school

where some of my worst hardships occur?

How do I help

I want to help

let me help

Calico Frost

VT

13 years old

More by Calico Frost

  • Character Connections

    Prompt for 2025-26 challenges:

    Character connections: In poetry or prose, write about a connection - whether positive, negative, or neutral - between two characters or yourself and a character.

  • Drowning in the unknown

    I am tormented by slight movements

    even silence is hurting me

    reality seems to be strobing

    or something like it -

    I've yet to learn how to explain these moments to others,

    even myself.

    It's not normal,

  • Anticipation

    This is the worst kind of anticipation

    this anticipation isn't just fear of what is to come

    it's laced around the edges with knowledge of how it went last time

    of how a repeat of last year is most likely inevitable.