Surrounded by Smoke | Teen Ink

Surrounded by Smoke MAG

June 12, 2013
By AvaJay GOLD, Spokane, Washington
AvaJay GOLD, Spokane, Washington
13 articles 4 photos 184 comments

Favorite Quote:
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not pray for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.<br /> ~ Tagore


I am fifteen
my cat is almost four
and the books I can't live without
are still overdue
at the library
how come everything that tastes good
makes you fat
what if tomorrow
always comes too soon
and the smoke outside my window
won't go away

I have to learn to keep my mouth shut
when they don't actually want to know
what I have to say
my head is throbbing
suppose I left behind
something more than the posters on my wall
maybe even something as big
as a legacy?
my headache isn't ceasing
I can't see clearly
and the smoke outside my window
won't go away

Nobody ever stops to speak
for those who have no voice
I should have tried out for the volleyball team again
they made me captain my first year
why do I have to
be the one
everyone expects to succeed
I have no answers for their questions
will I become the person
I want to be
and the smoke outside my window
won't go away


The author's comments:
I wrote this during a time when forest fires had destroyed the valley I live in. Smoke was so thick everywhere you went that everyone wore masks just to breathe.

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This article has 2 comments.


AvaJay GOLD said...
on Dec. 16 2013 at 12:19 am
AvaJay GOLD, Spokane, Washington
13 articles 4 photos 184 comments

Favorite Quote:
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not pray for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.<br /> ~ Tagore

Thank you so much! Being published was a great surprise, I actually didn't know this was going to be published until I actually came across it in the magazine! 

on Dec. 15 2013 at 1:28 pm
SpidersAcrossStars PLATINUM, Hayward, California
36 articles 0 photos 160 comments

Favorite Quote:
For you, a thousand times over.

This poem has a subtle beauty to it that leaves me feeling breathless. I loved this...raw emotion. Beautiful. Beautiful. Congrats on getting published! You deserved it.