Fresno County Public Library Poetry Contest

Cor Cordium (Heart of Hearts)

Oh, for there is a wild animal caged within my ribs
Pacing the floor of the pericardium that cushions its fall
I must say that sometimes I fear this ravenous beast
With jaws so large it seems it would devour the whole world

A Venn diagram of passion and pain, an infinity of ventricles
The creature gallops in place as if chasing some distant prey
Rattling the bars of its enclosure with cries for oxygen
If let loose I am sure it would bring destruction upon my pride

Yet I know not what else to do with such a fearsome thing
It mocks beauty by pounding its frenzied paws
It leaps at the most trivial matters of the day
It curls in on itself when it is already warm
And would tear to shreds any sleeve it encounters

To silence or remove it would be to invite an instant death
And so I must learn to live with its erratic appetite
I must train it to settle down every time you pass
And not to act so comfortable when you get close

I must muffle the sound when it shrieks your name
And discourage it from poking its head out as you near
For there is a wild animal caged within my ribs
Do tread carefully, for I fear that you can hear its call

--Alyssa K., 9th-12th Grade

The Way to Succeed

The best way to be successful is to follow your passion
Have the courage, make a plan, put it into action
Always dedicate your life, one day, you’ll start passing
Look for people who can help you, go around, keep asking

Keep on working in the dirt, keep on working in the heat
Bring some friends with you, keep on working with the Gs
You can do it, man, just keep your head up, keep pushing hard, don’t let up
When you feel down, dry your tears, man, and get up

No more quitting until you win it, no giving up until you get it
You will get it someday, just be pivoting ‘til you hit it
Just keep hitting hard, if you’re in music, keep on spitting bars
Keep hoping that your efforts will help you get far

You may not get it the first time
Or the second time, or even the third time
You may be done a lot of dirt for it
Good things don’t come easy, you got to work for it

--David O., Adult

Shallows

Across the shiny inlet where

freshwater reaches for the salt,

geese are wading or sleeping.

Above three pelicans are heading

out to see if it's school time where

they can grab a free lunch.

What do I know about loneliness

when it's never quite quiet out

here where the sea is still undecided

about what it wants to be?

--Janell W., Adult

Every Life had its Challenges

Though we are tied to that path, we…feel.
Overwhelmed.
The current pushes like a fiend,
away from the goals we’ve achieved.
This river overwhelms,
like the salmon fighting its way back home.
But unlike that salmon,
who never gives up the fight,
I let the current’s jurisdiction deem me
impotent.

I’m thrown into the ocean, oh how vast it is!
But its layer of Sunlight is dimmed,
The blue Twilight is pressuring in,
Then through this Midnight, there reigns no
star,
Is there anyone in this plentiful ocean who
can… h e a r m e ?

Every life has its challenges,
People have their own ‘little’ box,
The box once being open,
It’s components are laid bare,
The box therefore is thick, sealed and closed,
How do we know if its fragile, it’s not disclosed,
Its thoughts for the box, is it really to protect?
In reality its regret.

Sometimes the silence is too loud,
when the issues start to arise.
Thoughts become the nuisance of the
mind,
The article of clothing, fashion, and
organic shapes,
The eyes, they’re to scrape,
The world wants to soften your clay,
YOUR shape, YOUR form, it’s crucible!
Yet discontent is on its rise…
Can’t argue, “I’m me,” if you don’t like your
own body.
The smell of food, you’ve let your body
wear away,
“I am full, but thanks.”
But reality is saying “I’m starving,”
Because you want to become more
marveling.

Actions unspoken, toxic stress,
How can I even EXPRESS,
I FEEL, I WANT RED!...
But child, your not…not alone,
Call 988, and please… don’t postpone…
Help is there, even at night,
24/7 to fight that fight.
You don’t need, to go out the door,
you just need a call, with the phone,
Because every life has its challenges.
Know you're not alone.

--Adamaris L., 9th-12th Grade

Library note:
If you or someone you know has an eating disorder please seek help: please call the the Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Hotline at 1-800-931-2237.

SONRISE

Amidst the damp and rotting leaves found on the forest floor

The scavenger consumes its ghastly prize and waits for more

And though death’s smell permeates the heavy moistness in the air

The lambs still come, led by those who know but do not care

The filtered light plays tricks on those whose vision is obscured

And secret messages are passed around, all without a word

The agents of this hidden plan remain well out of sight

All the better to spread the pain, exacerbate the fright

And as the clouds sweep across the sky, shifting shadows seem to speak

And logic closes its weary eyes as reason’s strength grows weak

At last, the darkness falls hard upon the heads of the deceived

And soon they are entangled in the web of lies believed

And out from the gloom the rustling leaves indicate the presence of a stranger

And mortal fear strikes deep in the heart as the fog conceals the danger

Then piercing cries fill the dank night air and the violent struggle ensues

So, the silent lambs become, once again, the souls that it can use

But a distant light begins to shine from a clearing beyond the trees

And the warmth of its rays and the power of its Love is carried in the breeze

And the scent of the One who is armed with the Truth makes the hideous scavenger flee

For the lures that it uses to trap all the lambs will be exposed for all to see

In spite of all the hopelessness that remains among the rotten

The souls of all the vanquished lambs will not remain forgotten

And the cries of all those wandering souls who were misled along the way

Will now be answered by a loving heart who ushers in the day

And to those who were promised the earth by the scavenger--one day, they too, will part

But their souls will remain imprisoned because they turned a deaf ear to their heart

And as the Light of Truth arrives with the glistening dew of morn

Hope begins anew for those who seek to be reborn

--Edward G., Adult

Depués de un adiós

Hay esos vacíos que no se puede a llenar

Para esas necesidades de la profundidad

Espero por un río para llenarla

   Aunque jamás se llena, pero sí crece

   Me voy abajo y nada más que la nada
   Me voy arriba y hay una infinitad de espacio
   Eso es un adiós sin decir la palabra “adiós”
   O simplemente oigo una canción melancólica

   Hacia un atardecer eterno para oír a el adiós
   La sobria se vuelve un amor nostálgico
   Una nostalgia que jamás ha ocurrido fiscalmente
   Entre la dureza y suavidad del “adiós”

   Espacios sin tiempo que hay en ese adiós
   Cuando hay nada que oír sino sentir
   Eso es el amor que deseo tanto
   La liberación de uno mismo es amor

   Aunque eso vacíos que no se puede llenar
   Pero si se llena un poquito de un adiós
   Y no hay tiempo sin eternidad
   Más que decir un adiós

--Alejandro C., Adult

Glitter

A lifetime deleted

With a “fill in the blank”

Truth a saving grace

Now a wreckage

My heart burns

A seizing pain

Chest of iron

Barely breathing

Barely living

What a beautiful night ruined

What a mess of shattered dreams

What could have been a ring

Not even a righteous memory

Childish my tear!

Overacting, yet there’s nothing like it

What is “the end”

Why is “goodbye”

When is “too late”

Oh, let me forget

Just for one day

Let me continue my daydream

When it’s a lie

Comfort and confront me

Give me wisdom

Give me reason

Lie to my broken heart

How they fall so heavy

When they’re supposed to be light

My tears of glitter

Paint the night sky

With shimmering nothings

What could have been us

Now just wet stardust

What could’ve been now

Is just never

As I wait for another

My eyes may shimmer

As my tears fall like glitter

--Meniah W., 9th-12th Grade

Pages

The 25th Annual Poetry Contest is here!

Welcome to Fresno County Public Library's 25th Annual Poetry Contest. Submit your poems between April 1st and April 30th. Poems will be judged by talented, local professionals and our winners will be celebrated at an in-person Awards Ceremony in June.