Hey little girl, with your heart full of fears,
You’ve got your head in your hands, and your eyes full of tears.
Oh why do they call you these terrible things?
They trip up your feet, and they step on your wings.
They say that you aren’t worthy of affection,
And I say, don’t ever doubt yourself.
I’ve seen your highs,
I’ve seen your lows,
I know that you are beautiful,
So don’t listen to a word they say,
‘Cause they don’t know who you are.

Hey little girl, you know you’re not alone,
There’s this boy on the street, he plays the saxophone.
He’s got a case full of coins and seems to smile as he plays,
And laughs with everyone who comes his way.
He seems to be at ease with the attention,
But I know, sometimes he doubts himself.
So tell him, ‘play your heart, play your soul,
‘Cause that music of yours is beautiful,
And don’t listen to a word they say,

My anxiety is there; it is always with me. It is the itch on my back I can’t reach, the worrying thought forever in my brain. It is the hidden factor in all my thoughts, the constant fear of what will happen that drives my life. It makes the impossible options the most real, the most powerful. It turns the pleasant memories into the ones that make me afraid of what happens when I close my eyes. It makes me afraid to fall asleep because when I do, I don’t know what happens, outside my window, outside my door, in my closet. It makes me afraid to speak in public because I know I’ll mess up, even when I don’t. It’s in my every nerve, it runs through me with every pump of the heart. With every step that moves me forward, it asks, would it be better if I didn’t?

Every year, Young Writers Project and Vermont Stage team up for the annual Winter Tales extravaganza! This year, 14 YWP writers will have their work performed by Vermont Stage actors at seven shows from Dec. 11-15 at Main Street Landing's Black Box Theatre, Burlington. Read on to enjoy the tales of winter as told by YWP writers! YWP received so many amazing poems and stories about winter that we can't present them all here, but we have collected many of them, including those that will be performed by Vermont Stage. Those pieces include the date and time of their performance. Interested in attending Winter Tales? Find out more here and buy tickets!

My personality was the last one picked for the kickball team It was shy, The one who stayed quiet In the chattering mob of students who Didn’t like me. “Why didn’t they like me?” Negative thoughts bombarded me On those lonely nights, Sitting on my front porch, Watching as cars whizz Past in a flurry of Colorful lights. Like all those people, Rushing past, But never stopping for a Closer look. Fast forward To now, my personality is smart. It is funny and self confident. “But why doesn’t SHE like me?” Those thoughts still Plague me Like mosquitos, Sucking the all hope Out like blood. But the mosquitos go away In the winter. “Why doesn’t SHE like me?” I guess the mosquitos Aren’t leaving This year. I try to outrun the mosquitos With positivity, hiding the pain Behind a Plastic mask of my face. But life is a balancing act, And sometimes You fall off the tightrope. You hang on for dear life, Your weak biceps Struggling to hold on, your fingers Slipping with every insult that

Vermont Young Playwrights Festival -- Cold Readings of plays on Friday May 3, morning.
#vtyoungplaywrights
 

Vermont Young Playwrights -- Middle School Cold Readings, May 2, morning.
 

My name is Mia.
I am tall for my age.
I have light brown hair with natural highlights in it.
My eyes are green.
I wear glasses on my face.
I have a kind soul,
And a pure heart set on doing the right thing, 
Even if knowones watching.