A Free Verse Poem
"I love you"
You say.
Coming from you it's
Bittersweet.
I always return the gesture
Of course.
I do, after all.
But how can I forget?
Young Writers Project
The Daily Read
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We Can’t Let Him Win
I could ramble on all day about the ethics of all the things our country’s done.
But I won’t.
Instead I’ll say this one thing: it’s going to happen again.
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Smile
it stretches my face apart
not unlike the plates
we learn about in science class.
pulling at my jaw,
cheeks,
lips,
until finally
my whole demeanor
Gallery
Spotlight
'Mountains of Strength'
Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to our Annual Appeal, and for the messages of support and encouragement for the YWP community, such as this one: "We're sending you mountains of strength and abundant appreciation for everything!"
Challenges
Visual Art
Deadline
Desert
Imagine a desert. Draw, paint, or use any other visual arts medium to make an image of this desert.
Writing
Deadline
Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day celebrates love––any kind of love. Think about all the people you love and the different kinds of love in your life. Friends, family, pets, etc. Write an ode to them to celebrate the love you all have for one another.
Writing
Deadline
Shoes
Shoes carry us everywhere we go, through everything we experience, even shaping our feet as we grow. Write a short story from the shoes’ perspective or an ode to your shoes.
Visual Art
Deadline
Winter 2026 Art Contest
With your artist's eye, observe, interpret, and create. Choose a subject — an everyday object, a person, a landscape — and give yourself time and space to study it. Use the medium of your choice to convey the subject the way you uniquely see it.
Writing
America?
The fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis have induced fury, disbelief, sadness, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. This isn't America. Is it? Share your thoughts.
Writing
Hope & Resilience
Poetry steps in where uncertainty and chaos take root. Poetry lifts us up and moves us forward with determination. Explore these poems of hope and resilience. If you are inspired, share your own.
News & Events
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Tomorrow Project: January 2026 Award
Congratulations to Goldenrose, the January 2026 award winner in YWP's monthly Tomorrow Project contest!
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2026 Vermont Youth Poet Laureate
Vermont writers: You could become the 2026 Vermont Youth Poet Laureate!
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Photo Workshops: A Series by Kevin Huang
Kevin Huang, a photographer and an alumni of YWP, shares what he has learned about photography through his countless hours of experimenting and exploring with his camera. See Kevin's series of online workshops and post your own photos.
