The following speech should help you to see,
Why together we should save poetry.

For many, many years, poetry’s been growing,
Larger and larger, no sign of slowing,
For decades, poets across the lands,
Took destiny’s reigns up in their hands,
And carved out for themselves a bright bold name,
Used literary skill to secure their fame.
 
From Edgar Poe to Emily Dickson,
From J.R Tolkien to Lucille Clifton,
And, as few folks commonly know,
Even Shakespeare had a...

“The store will be closing in 5 minutes. Please bring all of your final purchases to the checkout counter. Thank you.”
The monotonous voice droned over the loudspeaker, just as it had at the 10, 15, 30, and 60 minute warnings. I rolled my eyes, and looked back at the two shirts I was considering. I loved them both, but they were really expensive and I was afraid my checkbook would not appreciate it if I purchased both.
 
 I...

A mass of dark smoke billowed across my bedroom floor. I slammed my computer shut and leapt from my chair. I ran to my bedroom door, my eyes stinging. I threw open my door, just to be flooded with more smoke. I slammed the door closed again, coughing and hacking. It felt as if there was a thick, black residue residing inside my lungs. My eyes were pouring, trying in vain to subside the retched feeling that had enveloped them....

For years I have loved you, no sign of love in return.
I gave you it all, but you repaid me with burns.
I chased for you, longed for you, dreamed of you,
And sometimes I enjoyed what I sought after too!
But you never stayed with me, you would always disappear.
Did you not understand that I wanted you right here?
Time after time, I got you here with me, 
But time after time, you left me hungry. 
Hungry for...

I stood alone in an unstable room. I nervously shifted my weight, and the floor creaked in agony. A cold wind blew, and the whole room shook on its foundation. I heard a loud crack from somewhere underneath the floor, and I began shaking as terribly as the walls were. There was another snap, and I screamed. I screamed loud, I screamed hard, I screamed as long as my lungs would let me. A moment later, my dad entered the...

My pencil flew across the paper. It bounced and danced as it depicted details of a fantasy world. 
My wrist ached, but though it tried, it couldn't convince me to stop writing. I was in the zone. 
"Just a few lines more…" I told myself, but then a few lines later I whispered,
"Just a few lines more…" and I knew I wasn't going anywhere. 

Then I stopped suddenly, mid sentence and looked up into my mom's smiling eyes. In her...