Kayla Miguel

A Poem About Poetry

Poetry is words on a paper that come to life through emotion.

Poetry is like seeing the world through another person's eyes whilst using their heart.

Poetry is about setting your imagination wild.

Poetry is as important as the brush that is needed in order to create a painting.

Poetry is as pointless as a song without a meaning.

Poetry means that you are strong enough to tell others but weak to have held it in all
this time.

Poetry is words on a paper that come to life.



GrowingUp
Once upon a time seems so long ago
when I was young
And I thought growing up was slow.
A serve over the net and preparing a new fish for the sea
were some of the good I did after the year 2003.
Although before I don't remember
The previous Augusts, Septembers and Novembers
Januarys and Julys are held close to my heart
for I've received gifts that I'd hate to have to part.
A brother a sister and a sister again
And I still wasn't ready to call the hospital my friend.
For good things have happened and sad things too
Like the time I was attacked by a dog and got 7 stitches to
prove.
It was scary and painful, I didn't want to move
But I had to stand up sometime and lace up my big girl shoes.
I was then scared of dogs for years after years
Until I realized how many K-9s were owned by me peers.
And when it finally went over I felt like I achieved
some goal
Like an underdog college team
that finally made it to the Rose Bowl.
The only person I had to thank was my Aunt Lani
Starr
Also because she was the first person to ever let
me drive a car.
A garbage can, a mailbox and the curb got love
taps
But I managed to get to our destination with the
car in one scrap.
So many role models and downers too
But I believe everything happens for a reason,
Just like Winnie the Pooh.
So Once Upon a Time wasnt too long ago,
But my stories just begun and it should be one
Where Im allowed to grow.

Koko is a purebred Yorkie Grow up you see

A puppy we got in 2014. Not like a tree or a seed.
She used to be the size of a doll But the kind where I realize
But now shes my partner when I run & condition for volleyball. What isn't so smart and what is wise.
So adulthood here I come.
A sport that comes naturally and a fun one at that But for now Im still a kid.
Although I could never get my serves right Whos just trying to have a little fun.
and in the net theyd go splat.

Bump,Set,Spike
Shesaliberoandshesajumpserver.
Shewaswatchedallthroughoutthewarmupdrills
andherservesnevershiedfromperfect.
Theballhittheflooronce,twiceandthenathird.
Shewasayardbehindtheservingline
andthreestepslatershewasaboveit.
Theballspinningintheairandherhandhittingit
withanecessaryforcethatsentitsoaringoverthenetand
Toourlibero.

Bump,set,spike.
Shebackedupandcalledtheballherspassingithigh
andfartothefrontrow.
Thesetterwasreadyandcallingaonefortheoutsidehitter
Whowastwostepsaheadofherbutwhenthesetter
volleyedtheballoverthenetandpasttheblock
Theonlypersonpayingattentiontotheball
wastheonewhoservedit.
Sheslidacrossthefloorandyoucouldhear
theburnsthatthecourtprobablygaveher.
Theballwentstraightuptooursideofthenet.

Bump,set,spike.
Freewasyelledandeveryonesteppedback
Watchingtoseewheretheballwent.
Straighttotheoutsidehittershebumptheballstraightup
oursetterwenttoretrieveitonceagainwhileyellingfive.
Thesetwasslowandsteadytothebiggesthitteronourteam.
Outside,inside,outside,jump.Herhandhittheball
withsomuchforce
Thesoundechoedthroughthequietgym
foreveryonetohear.

Bump,set,spike.
Theoppositesetterwassquattedandreadyfortheball,
Itsouredthroughtheairandhitherforearms.
Theballwentflyingsomewherebehindtheirheads
Thatnoteventhefastestontheirteamcouldgettoit.
Itdropped.Onthecementjustbeforetheredbleachers.
Awhistlewasblownandoneteamgroupedupinacircleyelling
thefirstletteroftheAlphabet
Whiletheotherteamshooktheirheadsindefeat.

Abump,aset,aspikeandstrategy.
Allittakesforasportthatleavesyouwith
courtburns,swollenforearms,looseponytails,
Bigthighsandafullheart.



AllThatIllEverBe

Looking into the mirror I realize that

an ocean is identical to the reflection I see.
The ocean is what I allow myself to be.

The dark waves that flow down my back. The eyes I have.
The ones that have a meaning as deep as the ocean.
And like a body of water they hold so much commotion.
So much emotion its hard to see.
But the ocean is what I allow myself to be.

But its not just whats on the outside

The ocean has deep levels and so do I.
The deepest and darkest part is the core.
A part that everyone has thats so different from the shore.
And this dark side can hold so much fear,
Pain and hate. Its scary clear.
But the ocean is what I allow myself to be.

But the medium levels are the most popular.

Its the level that I would allow you to see where you need no binoculars.
The happiness and the love and the passion, thats what you can see.
Thats all you see me to be. And I am the ocean. Its what I allow myself to be

And the top level is what you think of me,

What you hear of me and imagine me to be.
Calm on a summers day or rough on a winters night.
Because like I need air, the world needs the sea.
The ocean is what I allow myself to be.

So my identity is within the me, its as deep as the ocean and

as rough as the waves. But its how I see me.
And the ocean is all that Ill ever be.



Tom and Jerry

I am fourteen years old and fifteen in June.
And all I could think of is the Tom and Jerry cartoon.
A cat chase mouse game that we all know,
and a game Ive lost in shame that is helping me grow.

The mouse is me but my name isnt Jerry

And Im running from Tom who, over the years, has gotten quite scary.
Tom isnt a cat, lets get that out of the way
But he is the very thing that keeps me up late at the end of the day.
Hes as high as the sky and I dont think hes ever coming down
At least not until I walk off of a University stage with a diploma, cap and a gown.
Now if youve caught along you can see
That Tom is the expectations that my parents have for me.

Not a single F, D, C or B will cut it for my parents

But I dont understand how they are the ones feeling embarrassed.
They barely went to school not too long ago
But Im sure thats some information that they surely didnt want me to know.
But I am the one who goes to school full-time
So not being good enough is a full fledged crime.

So what the hell am I supposed to do now

When trying as hard as I can just doesn't cut it somehow.
Pulling all nighters to write perfect papers
And staying up later than double shifted waiters.
Presenting in front of class with no energy to spare.
And some days its so bad Im choking on air.

And coming home from school on a long Monday

And all I wanna do is sleep the day away.
But I cant you see because I have chores to do
And I have two kids and a baby to watch too.
I have dishes to do and a room to clean
Somethings I thought I didnt have to stress about until at least 23.

But the dishes are done my room clean and the kids asleep,
And now comes Tom sneaking out like a creep
And hes here to make sure everything is done perfectly
Perfect papers and powerpoints and worksheets too, all so I can get into my dream University.

So maybe Tom isn't just my parents expectations

Maybe he's my own too.
And Jerry is still a fourteen year old girl
who feels like she's going on twenty-two.