Order of Things by

From the Vermont High School Writing Contest Order of Things BIRDS You bind a bird, first, at the cross Of wings. Like PawPaw ties the boats to dock From the scattering of bones to-be, You choose their heart & wrap it up. The baby’s head Left soft at the center....

Iran/Biography of a Town by Narges Anzali

From the Vermont High School Writing Contest Iran Swallow your fear. Regurgitate it in the form of poetry. It’s not masochism if it’s pretty, You tell yourself. You are a proven liar. You watch your aunts parade around the room Poking and prodding their flesh until it...

Pay or Dispute by Matthew H. Califano

From the Vermont High School Writing Contest “Where the hell is it?” said my dad in a tone of exasperation mixed with just a hint of panic. “Maybe we passed it. It’s got to be here somewhere,” I replied. It was about 10pm on a frigid, March Monday night, and we were...

Karelia by Jonah Sayler

From the Vermont High School Writing Contest Sharp gusts of wind burst through the leafless, barren forest, and pierced Aatami Korhonen’s eyes. He lowered his head. The wind then ceased, suddenly, and the trees stood stoically still. He trudged further through the...

Quillsy by Elias Leventhal

From the Vermont High School Writing Contest Max pedaled his bike furiously along the city street, clutching the USB drive in his palm against the handlebars. As he rode, all he could think about was the quarter-sized pressure in his palm. Jerome had given him the...