Can’t figure out the Wordle Words Brain c’mon think word combinations green yellow. Words Can’t figure out the Wordle ___
I’m holding his paw Final day alive. Tears. Final dog doesn’t know Finality. His paw, I’m holding
4/19/2024
Kate Taylor is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School in Wisconsin, where she enjoys numerous different writing challenges each day. She chose to write one rather simple and relatable Skinny—trying to solve the Wordle, and one more solemn, emotional piece—about the passing of a beloved pet. Other than writing, Taylor enjoys dancing and spending time with friends.
Solar eclipse, the disturbance of the moon darkens concealment dims decline darkness overshadows veil extinguishing darkness The disturbance of the moon, solar eclipse
4/19/2024
Rachael Reidy is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School in Wisconsin. She chose to write about the Solar Eclipse, since just recently, on April 8th, 2024, the total solar eclipse was shown upon us once again. Other than writing, Reidy enjoys spending most of her time outdoors, especially during the summer with friends and family.
Arcs and Sparks fusion paying off, hours fusion fit-up penetration craftsmanship fusion Arcs and sparks. ___
Calving season has arrived pairs mornings nights breech pairs tagging vaccinating shaky pairs Calving season has arrived.
4/19/2024
Drayke Rahebi is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. Rahebi is passionate about welding in and out of school, as well as working on the neighbor’s farm in Illinois. This is his first time writing in the Skinny poetry form. He proclaimed the Skinny form is short, sweet, and has deeper meaning than meets the eye. These poems were written for those in the welding and cattle industries.
What a pill Loneliness sitting waiting screaming Loneliness Fine. Indifference encapsulated. Loneliness What. A. Pill.
4/19/2024
Hannah Muellerwrites: “This poem is about my stepdad and the struggles he went through with using. It was really hard for my family to live with this when it was going on in our household. Through ups and downs, we all still stayed connected. Even through the hardest times, we still all loved each other and finally got him help.”
The wall shaking from screams doors arguments from cries leaving loneliness from The shaking wall
4/19/2024
Rachel Makowski is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. This is her first Skinny and she liked the style. She chose to write about two sides of divorce. Makowski likes to listen to music, read, and travel.
Will it ever stop? Hate Politics killing Racism’s hate— lying mistreating selfish Hate Will it ever stop?
4/19/2024
Simeon Lakic is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. This is his first time ever writing a Skinny and he really enjoys the format. He chose to write about problems in the world that have been going on for so long and need to get resolved and stopped. Other than writing, Lakic likes to play hockey and golf and hanging out with friends.
I am Speed fast skilled McQueen lightning fast Confidence Charisma winning fast Speed, I am
4/19/2024
Sara Kopf is a senior at Arrowhead High School and in the fall will be attending MSOE to get a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She wrote this poem about the movie Cars, because she loves watching racing, and wants to become a racing engineer in the future. She also wanted to write a more upbeat poem to make people smile and laugh.
It’s only a cigarette Smoke Calm Relaxed Serene Smoke Stressed Decay Diseased Smoke It’s “only” a cigarette.
4/19/2024
Danielle (Dani) Ehnert is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She adores listening to music as well as writing stories and poems. In her leisure time, she is fond of taking walks, reading books, learning new languages, dancing, and singing. Ehnert wrote this poem to reveal the truth about smoking, from personal experience with her grandmother.
According to society, Women: Skinny Fat Stupid Women: Meant For Play Women: According to society ___
Those children should be playing, Not Working For Money. Not Pleasing Older Pigs. Not Playing, those children should be.
4/19/2024
Ella Cutts is a junior at Arrowhead Union High school. She loves writing stories, participating in theater, and singing in her spare time. She is very fond of movies and aspires to hopefully act, write, and/or direct a film of her own. Ella wrote the following poems in hopes of educating others on the hard truths of the world.
The mirror lies when I look in. When will I know when The mirror lies?
4/19/2024
Karly Turinske is a senior at Arrowhead High School. She enjoys thinking and expressing herself creatively through the use of writing and art. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, being outdoors, hunting, trapshooting, and making art. Although Turinske had never written a Skinny before her Creative Writing class with Ms. Jorgensen, she enjoyed attempting it.
At the graveyard Goodbye Rain Crying Stone Goodbye Names People Gone Goodbyes At the graveyard
4/19/2024
Elizabeth Wurster is a senior at Arrowhead High School and in the fall will be attending Pharmacy school. She has always enjoyed writing, specifically poems and creative stories. Wurster wrote this poem to convey the feeling of going to a funeral, specifically a burial, and how hard grief can be for family and friends.
All around us Smoke Coughs Littering Stench Smoking Lungs Cancer— Sick. Smoke All around us
4/19/2024
Emily Newman is a senior at Arrowhead High School. She takes writing very seriously and has a great joy for it. She particularly enjoys getting to express her creative freedom throughout her writing class in school. Newman decided to write about a cause that in some way affects everyone. Whether it is a bystander, family member, friend, acquaintance, or yourself who takes part in the habit of smoking. She wants people to understand how the side effects of smoking negatively impact our health.
Turn key Gear Pedal Metal Fast Gear Loud Pop Screech Gear Turn key
—
Death
Bell Rings Walk Sit Boredom Pain Walks Friends Pencil Paper Walk Bell Rings
4/19/2024
Jordan Laurila is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School in Wisconsin. Laurila had never written Skinnys before, but ended up enjoying it more than some other forms of poetry and finds it fun to try. In the fall he will be studying Criminal Justice at a local school, in hopes of joining the police academy once he has graduated.
In a dark sky glowing— silent stars shimmer glowing— magnificent moon moving glowing— In a dark sky.
4/19/2024
Paige Klingele is a junior at Arrowhead Union High school. Klingele is very passionate about her creative writing class and journalism class with Ms. Jorgensen. This is her first time writing in the Skinny poetry form. This promising student author wrote about cancer and how it greatly affected her grandpa. Throughout her poem, she describes some of the signs that she saw watching her grandpa’s health decline.
In a dark sky glowing— silent stars shimmer glowing— magnificent moon moving glowing— In a dark sky.
4/19/2024
Gabriella (Gabby) Hoffman is a senior at Arrowhead High School. In the fall, Hoffman will be studying radiological sciences at a local university with hopes of becoming a pediatric X-Ray technician. In her free time, she enjoys being on the lake, reading, hanging out with friends, and working at a local boutique in town. This student author enjoyed her first time writing in the Skinny poetry form and she is proud of how it turned out.
Life in a box Cold Damp Cramped Windy Cold Thirsty Hungry Forgotten Cold. A life, boxed in.
4/19/2024
Peyton Bodway is a senior at Arrowhead High School. In the fall of 2024, Bodway will be going to a technical college to study diesel equipment technology in the hopes of becoming a diesel mechanic. In his free time, he likes to read, sing, hangout with friends and work at the local movie theater. This is his very first time writing a Skinny and he is very happy with how it turned out.
This body is no temple. My Scarred Sides And My Dull Eyes Tarnished, My Body. This is no temple.
1/26/2024
Sinden Goldberg was born and raised in Washington, DC. They are studying at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, in the Literary Arts and Media department, as a part of the 2027 class. They are a poet and author, inspired by poets Ocean Vuong and Richard Siken. To be sure, all the editors at The Skinny Poetry Nation are indelibly proud of the brilliance that makes its home in them.
Family Your family is so perfect, Anger Emerging Children Neglected Anger Divorcing Parents Intoxicated Anger So perfect, your family is.
1/15/2024
Julionna Morrison is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. She wrote her poem about families behind closed doors and their imperfections. This is Morrison’s first time writing a Skinny; she says, “it was fun and interesting to try out a technique she’s never used before.”
They always fought Screaming destruction Profanity heartbreak Screaming broken household, fatigue Screaming They always fought.
1/15/2024
Jairo Alavez is a senior attending Arrowhead Union High School. Outside of school he loves to play soccer and hang out with friends. This is his first time writing in the Skinny form. Alavez reports that he loved the process of it. This poem is written for those having problems with a divided household.
You’re fading away. thin white lines create thin unrecognizable people– too thin. You’re fading away.
1/15/2024
Emma Fingleton is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She enjoys writing and savoring the company of her friends. She wrote this poem to convey the unspoken truth of the genuine effects of drug use, specifically on the people surrounded by the user. She hopes to continue to write these types of poems, as the unique Skinny form is fun to work with.
Mental Health Matters Too Sickness Insufferable Calamity Killjoy. Sickness Ignominious Cruel Kibosh. Sickness Mental. Health. Matters. Too.
1/15/2024
Arrowhead Union High School student, Emily Baber, wrote this Skinny on mental health her junior year. This topic was easily chosen, as she has realized the importance of mental health since the raw age of 12. Her Creative Writing teacher, and published writer, Elizabeth Jorgensen, has been very encouraging throughout Baber’s writing process. Indeed, she will continue to write and create artwork based off the importance of mental health, and even plans on going into art therapy as a career in the near future.
just try it once Said Money Consuming Withdrawals Said Dependency Self-hatred Anger Said just try it once
1/15/2024
Andrew Catalano is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. Outside of school, he very much enjoys playing hockey and hanging out with his friends. Catalano’s piece is about all of the bad in addiction. In the context of his submission, he shares that he found the process of composing poetry extremely “impactful.” To be sure, all of The Skinny Poetry Nation editors are enamored with the results of his creative writing efforts.
Trash on earth. Garbage Grows, Litter Lingers, Garbage Glares. Unite, Clean Garbage. Earth on trash.
1/15/2024
David Dobbertin is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. Outside of school, he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with friends and family. This is his first time writing in the Skinny fixed form of poetry, and he loved how it turned out. His poem was written to raise awareness of pollution and express the need for change.
My Grandpa Had Cancer sad weak depressed Cancer sick angry unmotivated Cancer My Grandpa Had
1/15/2024
Dylan Ehnert is a junior at Arrowhead High School. He likes watching football and basketball and spending time with friends. This is his first time writing in the Skinny fixed form of poetry. This particular poem is written about his grandpa and the problems he had to face.
“We care about your mental health.” Focus! Hours of work. Focus! Get some sleep. Focus! “We care about your mental health.”
1/15/2024
MollyClaire Gibbons is a senior at Arrowhead High School. Next year, she is planning on going to Columbia College Chicago, majoring in graphic design with a possible minor in creative writing. This is her first time writing Skinnys, but is planning to attempt more in the future.
Alone on campus Never Leave Door Open. Never Walk At Night. Never. Alone, on campus
1/15/2024
Olivia M. Greuel is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. She enjoys dancing for the Liberty Dance Center in Waukesha and playing board and card games with family and friends in her free time. This is her first time writing a Skinny and she enjoyed the process, as well as how her poem turned out. Her poem was written to bring awareness about college campus crimes and it expresses her own anxiousness about living on a college campus next year.
I do have enough thinking work Groceries Housing thinking it’ll Never work thinking Do I have enough
1/15/2024
Maura Hanley is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. Outside of school she loves to hang out with friends and explore new places. This is her first time writing a Skinny. Hanley wrote about serious problems in the world, like poverty, and people not knowing if they have enough money for basic needs.
I wear a mask off the stage Hiding Insecurities Fears Doubts Hiding Thoughts Feelings Emotions Hiding, Off the stage, I wear a mask.
1/15/2024
Molly Ignatowski is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She wrote her Skinny, “Mask,” in her creative writing class with Mrs. Terri Carnell. In her free time, Molly enjoys reading, writing, and performing with Arrowhead High School’s Broadway Company. Her poem is about the insecurity she faces and how, even when she’s off stage, she still feels like she’s playing a character, unable to take the mask off–to stop hiding, so she can let people see what is truly “her.”
The car hit us. Blood drips from eyes. Blood fills my vision. Blood. The car hit us.
1/15/2024
Allison Jones is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She enjoys spending time with friends and everything that has to do with anything art-related. One main thing she likes to do is to design costumes. This is her first time writing Skinnys and her poem is about a car crash in which she was involved. Jones shares that she, “really enjoyed trying this new style of poetry.” All at TSPN are very happy that she did.
Waiting in Class eyes scan clock ticks, eyes wait, stressed countdown eyes, Wait in Class
1/15/2024
Xavier Kastner is a junior in high school at Arrowhead High School. He loves skiing and hanging out with his friends. He really likes to try to do new things. The poem he wrote is about how he feels while he is in school and what he thinks about while he sits in class.
What is a mirror? Reflects imperfections of figures. Reflects what is despised Reflects, what a mirror is.
1/15/2024
Sarah Kiesling is a senior in high school. Outside of school she is a competitive synchronized swimmer. This is her first time writing a Skinny and she enjoyed the simplicity of it. She writes about the reflections in a mirror and how they reflect the challenges of self-image that many people feel.
I am a girl, Perfect Dainty Reliable Quiet Perfect Exploited, Used Mistreated, Perfect I am. A Girl.
1/15/2024
Arrowhead Union High School student, Kaylin Liburd, wrote this poem for her junior year creative writing class. She plans to study Zoology or Archeology in college; and one day she plans to work in one or the other fields, as well. In the context of this composition, Liburd shares that she, “enjoyed taking the creative writing class, and learning different writing styles.” And that, “she enjoyed this assignment, most of all, as it was a sweet, short way to write what she was feeling.” The poem is about her own experiences and the collective experiences of other women.
House in flames Fire Hot Screams Sirens Fire Yelling Ashes Collapsing Fire House in flames.
1/15/2024
Graiden Liethen is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. He’s not a big fan of poems, but he’s happy to share this one (and TSPN is delighted that he did). Out of school, he is very interested and engaged in baseball as a pitcher and is planning to play in college.
No one cares Dead animals lie down Dead before they die Dead No one cares.
1/15/2024
Jessi Mathews is a senior at Arrowhead High School. She enjoys spending time with her dog. Her Skinny was written to bring awareness to the terrible conditions that animals in slaughterhouses face before they die. She hopes to continue to write Skinnys, along with other types of poetry, as she studies English at the University of Minnesota next year.
The World is Great Pain War Death Power Pain Crimes Blood Homelessness Pain The World is Great
1/15/2024
Hunter Miscikowski is a student at Arrowhead Union High School. He likes basketball and football, enjoys having fun, and likes playing video games. He got the idea for this Skinny after looking at the events of the world and “seeing that the reality is kind of a hellscape to look at, with the wars going on, crime rates continuing to skyrocket, and school shootings.” He also shares that, “people say ‘the world is great,’” but he wonders, “if they are really speaking the truth or just don’t want to admit what is going on.”
Adulthood Marriage Working Taxes Children Marriage Independence Chores Cooking Marriage Adulthood
1/15/2024
Alexis Morgan is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, going hiking and camping, and playing her instrument (clarinet) both in band class and in her free time. Next year, she will be attending Carroll University and majoring in Radiologic Technology. This is her first time writing Skinny poetry and her poem is about adulthood. She shares that she enjoyed writing in the Skinny poetry form. Indeed, the all of the editors at The Skinny Poetry Nation are very glad that she did.
Alaina Raddatz is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. Her Skinny was written to bring awareness to the issue of judgement that LGBTQ+ people face in everyday life. While this is her first time composing a Skinny, she is very happy with how it turned out and plans to write more in the future.
Silence is here. Your Claws Don’t Sound. Your Bark Doesn’t Echo. Your Silence is here.
1/15/2024
Jackson Schulz is a senior at Arrowhead High School. His favorite subject is science and he aspires to become an anesthesiologist. Outside of school, he plays football and runs track– with track being his favorite of the two. Schulz plans to run track in college and continue staying active. He also enjoys playing pickup basketball with his friends and spending time with his family.
When did I grow up? Childhood, outside, trees, creeks. Childhood over. License. High-School. Childhood. When did I grow up?
1/15/2024
Tyler Seidl is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. He chose to write about how he was forced to grow up and lost four years of his life. At a young age, he was exposed to the harsh reality of life. Both he and his mother seemingly lost years of their lives trying to move past these issues, and when the dust was settled, they realized many years had passed. His mother was sad she missed out on so much of her child’s life.
The last call Ringing Someone Is Shooting Ringing I Love You Ringing The last call
1/15/2024
Elaine (Lainey) Soto is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. Her Skinny was written in honor of those who have lost their lives to gun violence and to bring awareness of the sadness regarding the issue. She also hopes to continue composing Skinnys, as the form allows for an abundance of freedom on the topic, with poetic structure.
I look out of my back window, and blink. maples, oaks, serenity. Blink. dirt, yellow machinery. Blink, and I look out of my back window.
1/15/2024
Katie Weitner is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. Her Skinny was written about the [seemingly] inevitable urbanization and development of the modern world. She enjoyed composing in the Skinny fixed form of poetry for the first time and found it a unique, powerful, way to express ideas.
Bone like Can’t Gain Weight Can’t Be Like This Can’t Like bone
6/19/2023
Ty Getz is a graduate of Arrowhead Union High School, part of the class of 2023. He’s currently enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), planning to double major in finance and accounting. Additionally, outside of his academic pursuits, he will compete as an athlete as a part of the UNI track and field team. TSPN wishes him profound success in all of his future endeavors.
One more can’t hurt pills swallowed need more pills can’t function without pills One more can’t hurt
6/19/2023
Arrowhead Union High School student, Ella Hardtke-Laughlin, wrote this poem in her senior year creative writing class–that of vibrant poet and Language Arts instructor, Ms. Elizabeth Jorgensen. She reports that she, “enjoyed writing in [the] class as it really taught me I can use the power of writing to spread awareness, as I attempted to do in this poem about opioid overdoses.” All at The Skinny Poetry Nation are happy and honored to indeed share the power of this poem.
i have scars and blisters on my fingers keys between my fingers instead of her fingers and i have blisters on my scars
4/11/2023
Sonia Skolnik is writer born and raised in Washington D.C. She is a freshman at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, studying in the Department of Cinematic and Literary Arts & Media Production. Skolnik is an aspiring author, playwright, and poet, and has had a love of writing since the age of seven. She primarily works with various forms of poetry and prose, but she is interested in cinematography and photography, as well. Her publications include a nonfiction article entitled “History Repeats Itself” in the Washington Jewish Week. More of Skolnik’s work can be found featured in upcoming showcases at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and at other such events.
spring peepers wake calling louder than trucks calling wilder than wind calling awake, peepers spring
4/5/2023
Ingrid Bruck grows wildflowers, makes jam and writes poetry. A public library director by profession, now retired, she serves as a reader/writer for Between These Shores Books. She writes a monthly BTS column, “Pearl Diving,” with online writer resources. Four of her poems were Pushcart nominees, and two nominees for Best of the Net. Bruck has a chapbook, entitled Finding Stella Maris (Flutter Press). Some work also appears in BTSA, The Heron’s Nest, Failed Haiku, Verse-Virtual, Sanctuary Magazine, Spillwords, The Skinny Poetry Journal and Rat’s Ass Review. Embrace more of Bruck’s poetry at www.ingridbruck.com.
Lovely lilies touch her hair, When She Is Bleeding, When She Is Crying, When Her hair touches lovely lilies.
Her tears water lovely lilies, Flooding Droplets Of Guilt, Flooding Regretful Past Choices, Flooding Her, tears water lovely lilies.
Her fingers pollinate lovely lilies, Gifting Presents Of Peace, Gifting No More Trauma, Gifted. Her fingers pollinate lovely lilies.
Life can now chase the lovely lilies, And Old Vengeful Vines, And Old Rampant Roots, And Now the lovely lilies can chase life.
—–
Unexpected Motherhood
I’m yet a mother, yet a child I Ought To Know, I Ought To Understand, I Am yet a child, yet a mother.
—–
Not So Hollow Bones
I shall become hollow bones, Fluids Empty, Notions Gone, Fluids revealing pride, Emotions broken, Fluids. Hollow bones, I shall become.
The hollow bones warn me not to speak I’m only Small Sand, I’m A Wandering Warrior, I’m Not to speak, I warn the hollow bones.
And now am I a hollow bone forever? Perhaps I’ll Break, Or Perhaps I’ll Grow, Although Perhaps I am a hollow bone, now and forever.
3/28/2023
Anouk Schneider is a writer and filmmaker at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, known for its prestigious art programs. Schneider has been writing stories since the moment she understood how, and spent the first years of her life in Paris, surrounded by art and culture. She has been recognized within her art department for a comedy film entitled, “Lost in A Ruff Day” presented in the school film festival, “Awakening.” To be sure, Schneider is also recognized and very much valued here at The Skinny Poetry Nation.
my body is a temple but empty stricken walls violated empty robbed forced barren empty but my body is a temple
3/20/2023
Sabrina Butler is a poet and storyteller based in Washington, DC. She attends Duke Ellington School of the Arts as a part of their exclusive Cinematic Arts and Media Production program (also known as CAMP). Butler enjoys writing about issues that aren’t usually addressed. In the future, she wishes to pursue a career related to Literary Media. For that, and for her talent, the world should be very grateful.
The Skinny Poetry Nation 