Home
Young Writers Project

Search form

  • Login
  • DONATE
  • CREATE
    • RECENT POSTS
    • THE DAILY READ
    • RECENT VISUAL ART
  • COMMUNITY
    • TINY WRITES
    • BOOK CLUB
    • WINTER READS!
    • YWP MENTORS
    • YWP ALUMNI ADVISORS
  • CHALLENGES
    • WEEKLY CHALLENGES 22-23
    • JOURNALISM CHALLENGES
      • Journalism Project Info
    • THE GREAT ARTISTS CHALLENGE
    • ARTSPACE CHALLENGES
    • THE GREAT POETS CHALLENGE
    • CHALLENGES BANK
    • YWP RESOURCES
    • Weybridge Haiku Contest
  • CONTESTS & EVENTS
    • TEENAGER: A writing and visual art contest! Due March 1
    • INNER ARTIST: ArtSpace Workshop March 18
    • ABOUT ARTSPACE
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • THE VOICE
    • ANTHOLOGIES
      • ANTHOLOGY 13 VIDEO
    • MEDIA PARTNERS
    • SPECIAL ISSUES: The ELM 2021-22
      • The ELM 2020-21
      • The ELM 2019-20
    • YWP NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT YWP
    • QUICK FAQs
    • HOW THE SITE WORKS
    • RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
    • ANNUAL REPORT 21-22
    • PERMISSION FORM
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS OF USE
    • CONTACT US
  • Donate
  • LOG IN/JOIN
Previous Post
Next Post
Apr 20
poem
gaia_lenox

happiness skips a generation:

happiness skips a generation 
because today I saw my brother's eyes 
as I made raspberry scones 
and he picked up 
a glass of water 
and disappeared down a flight of stairs 
and I know one day 
he too will loose 
all his marbles 
and happiness skips a generation 
i write on my legs 
in tears and guilt and 
the balloon in my chest 
keeps expanding 
and my wonder was squashed by 
3 boys in the 5th grade 
who filled my lunch box with mud 
and happiness skips a generation 
because I tried to write a happy ending 
4 different times but 
ended up crying over a bug 
that lay dead on my window 
and it hurts so bad to dream of 
walking on clouds 
when I know they are made of 
water and sorrow 
(but not as bad as remembering 
your hands on my waist) 
and I wear reckless 
around my ankle and 
fear around my neck and
hope under my finger nails 
but I wash my hands too often 
for it to stick 
and I am still scared of the dark 
because I don't know how bad 
my heart will hurt
and every laugh feels sour 
and you never know how 
much it will hurt
until it skips a generation 

 
  • gaia_lenox's blog
  • Sprout
  • Log in or register to post comments
Posted: 04.20.20
About the Author: gaia_lenox
Gaia Lenox
MSG / CONTACT
RECENT LOVES
  • A frostbitten moon
  • Tiers
  • The Voice: January 2021 issue
  • My grey
  • The dreams I have for you
RECENT COMMENTS
  • thank you so much, as always
  • Ahhh thank you!!
  • this is one of those poems
  • This is incredibly powerful,
  • thank you so much

Other Posts

  • the bathroom skin is clogged:
    I am quite empty these past few moments like each and every thought  Read more
    in poem 0 Comments
  • I want to draw a picture of us holding hands:
    you said my name and a window slammed shut because I am trying to be strong  Read more
    in poem 3 Comments
  • I am trying to try to keep me alive:
    sadness always hits me like a screen doorwith broken springs all at once  Read more
    in poem 0 Comments

Discussion

Comments

  1. Treblemaker
    Apr 20, 2020

    *gives hug* This hit me hard, especially now and I feel your pain in the piece here, but its really beautiful too

    "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." - Toni Morrison

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. gaia_lenox
    Apr 21, 2020

    thank you!

    Gaia Lenox

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. Nightheart
    Apr 22, 2020

    Hi!
    I really love this piece. They way that you bring the abstract into it in a subtle way so that it is still understandable i really beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

    "remember, we are infinite"

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. gaia_lenox
    Apr 23, 2020

    Thank you so much!! That means a lot

    Gaia Lenox

    • Log in or register to post comments
  • ABOUT
  • DONATE
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
  • JOIN/LOGIN
YWP is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists. We're based in Burlington, VT, and we welcome young creators from anywhere!
Young Writers Project | 47 Maple St., Suite 216 | Burlington, VT 05401
501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2006
Contact: Susan Reid, Executive Director: [email protected]; (802) 324-9538