The Longest Poem -by Abraham LaBelle

The title of this post might be misleading; I am not going to write the longest poem.

Instead, I will spread knowledge about the longest known epic poem, called the Mahābhārata.
This monster of literature has been called "the longest poem ever written", and apart from its name, which is already long enough, the Mahābhārata has more than 200,000 verses and about 1.8 million words.

The Mahābhārata is actually only one of the two major Sanskrit epics of India. The other is called the Rāmāyaṇa. The author of the Mahābhārata is Vyāsa, a revered figure in Hindu traditions. The epic is estimated to be written around 500 BC. It is no wonder why this epic is suggested to be at the same level as the Bible, and Shakespeare's works.

Vyāsa

If you are interested in learning more about the contents and themes of the Mahābhārata, you are welcome to read it. Front to back. All 1.8 million words.

The Past by Matt Dumbroff

The Past

Where there once was love there now is hate

Old faces in photos covered up with masking tape

Houses empty

Homes broken

No where to run no where to hide

Simply must go unwillingly for a ride

It seems as if nothing will end their chide

sleepless nights 

endless fights

the sun is setting on my old life

replacing it with one of constant strife 

Around one another they are simply incapable of acting tame

statistics say 50 percent of all people are doomed to this fate

Blue by Joseph Dempsey

It is amazing how one word

Can be used in so many ways. 

In many cases one word

Can have opposite meanings.

For example, the word Blue.

He was feeling blue today,

Her heart was blue,

They had the blues.

On the other hand, 

The warm sun in the blue sky,

The gentle blue ocean

The beautiful blue orchid.

 

But that is the beauty of language.

Such a simple word

can be universally understood.

 

Society by Briana Cotten

There will be times when the sun won't shine as bright

The grass won't be as green

And it will look as if the rain will never stop

But look up to see the rainbow

There will be times when the stress will pile up high

Higher than you've ever experienced

But you will get through it

There will be times when you aren't happy with yourself

Your overall attitude

How you treat others

Not doing enough for the world we live in

But make that change to fix it.

There will be times when society has become too much

Too much social media

Too much pressure

But know that you can take a break

The world isn't based off of numbers although it may seem that way

How many followers you have 

Your highest streak

How much you weigh

The number of friends you have 

What your ranking number is in school

How many likes you get

No 

Wrong

You are what you make of yourself 

Take chances 

Grow a root so strong that nothing can bring you down

Ignore the haters

Be true to yourself

Because you know that you set your own expectations

You are the holder of your destiny 

So you can either sit back and try and "fit in" 

Or 

You can take a stance 

End the societal factors that have become the "normal" 

So normal that without these things like Instagram are you even known? 

Who cares

After high school comes college 

That's the real world

Currently we are all in a bubble

Now sometimes that bubble may seem like it is going to pop

Yet just know that it will be okay

We all were put on this Earth for a purpose

So do not ruin it by trying to be someone you aren't

Stand up for what you believe in

Be brave 

When you get older you want to be able to remember 

Remember the good times 

Remember how you were the best you possible 

Nobody wants to live a life that they aren't happy with

Because that is the most important thing

Love yourself for who you are 

Embrace your crazy and everything in between

How you view yourself 

Matters so much more than how others view you

In the future they won't even matter

Once everyone goes their separate ways

You do not want to be left with nothing 

So make something of yourself 

While you still can

And just remember

You 

Are 

Amazing 

And capable of anything you set your mind to. 

Home by Claire Riley

Home.

Home has walls, a roof and a bed.

Home has such comfort, to leave is to dread.

Home is the white picket fence in your yard,

that stands sturdy for years to protect and to guard.

Home is the place where children can grow.

Home is the house that you certainly know.

Home is the place where you flee to each day.

Home is the place that can wipe tears away.

Home will always be where your family lives.

Home will always be the place you find friends.

Home will always be the place you yearn,

It's where you belong; It's where you'll return.

A Sonnet. (Ryden Mederos)

The following poem is a sonnet I wrote in 9th grade. I remember taking great pride in this piece at the time, as it had been my first attempt at a Shakespearian sonnet, yet I never ended up posting it anywhere or sharing it to anyone (of course, besides with Mrs Brennan). We were given a prompt simply about love, and as the single 14 year old I was, I didn't seem to connect personally to the idea of love. To the feeling of love. Rather, I viewed it, and possibly still do, as a concept. Love is not reserved to romantic affairs, of course, but that was the focal point of my writing. I attempted to explain the common perception of love versus the non-stereotypical point of view. But, alas, this proved difficult. I don't believe even the greatest writer could summarize love in a perfect manner through a brief work of poetry, but that does not matter. A part of me believes that to be representative of an extremely prevalent portion of love- it is not easy to understand or express always. Through action rather than words, love is best expressed. Even then, people wonder what actions show love and affection towards others. Should you be reserved and private, or open and proud? Regardless of the difference of opinion, I found this poem to be one I still find to be true to how I feel, and decided to share it here. Enjoy!

-Ryden.

Romance is a rather cliche matter.

There is simply never enough to say.

Not enough to give; we resort to attar.

Many cannot display passion today.

Crude paradigms often cause horrid regrets.

Upfront approaches are apace; forward.

Passion is bound to roses and secrets.

Soft kisses and boats travelling shoreward.

Romance is a rather confined matter.

There is simply too much we cannot say.

Too much to give, too much chitter chatter.

Many won’t dare display passion today.

Love is not just what we are told it is.

Love is just what we choose to make of it.

Hurricane- Ryden Mederos

Hurricane

He drifted to sleep.

In sleep and in consciousness, it was easy to forget his roots. 

Sometimes it was all he remembered.

His thoughts grew weaker,

he drifted. His life in the Caribbean came flooding back. 

His mother

His father

The people whom he knew.

The people in his town.

His town-

There were storm clouds approaching.

Ominous. Dark grey of color.

Approaching fast.

With them came heavy rain;

Winds of the sorts he had never seen before.

The village flooded without hesitation, 

People being swept away in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye.

He blinked his eyes open and jolted awake.

He was in the eye of the storm.

The air was still,

There was quiet.

The calm. 

RM

(I thought of this while listening to the Hamilton soundtrack, specifically the song Hurricane, so I can thank Lin-Manuel for this one. It also was originally narrative format, but I decided it stood better alone as a poem.)

I Hate School

Poem by Cynthia Loh

I am trapped inside the walls of hell

With a bunch of hooligans who like to yell

Forced to listen to some old geezer

Someone just stuff me into a freezer

I wake up at six everyday

But I'd rather hit a clown with a tray

Up so early I can barely think

Why does this school always stink

Food that makes me wanna puke

Its like someone just launched a nuke

Coming home each day with piles of work

I think I'm gonna go berserk

School is just a pool of stress

Oh dear lord! What a mess

Some might think I'm being too cruel

Well sorry, I just really hate school