Creative Writing Commons^™

Life After Death, Mridula Nadamuni

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

This poem explores the reflections of a physician following a poignant interaction with a patient, as each confronts the reality that time on Earth is limited.

Palace, Kelis D. Rodgers

Persimmon Creek

A poem written about a fallen empire.

The Weight Of The White Coat, Jonathan Cunningham

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

This is a poem reflecting on the mission of the medical provider through the image of the white coat.

Liberty, Madeline Hutchinson

Vázquez-Valarezo Poetry Award

No abstract provided.

Confess To Me, Jenna M. Hood

Landshark Literary Review

A persona poem from the point of view of a person close to someone who seems to be experiencing abuse, but refusing to talk about or confess the truth to the "me" in the poem. The speaker is fixated on desperate and increasingly disturbing thoughts about what should happen regarding the suspected tormentor.

Will They?, Joshua Hammond

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

Betting On The Bloom, Zareefah Raiidah Khan

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

El Dolor=Creativity, Joshua D. Hammond

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

Hair Dye, Adeline Myers

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

I Saw The Sun, Dylan Edmond

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

I Offer Up Myself/You Are Mine, Joshua Hammond

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

The Summer They All Came Back, Georgia Coomer

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

There's No One Left Here, Logan Hentschel

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

The War Over The Heavens Does Not Favor The Gods, Logan Hentschel

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

I’M Not Talking About Dirty Laundry, Parker Coyne

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

It's About Time, Dylan Edmond

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

Livestock Guardian Dog/Livestock Guardian Dog, Continued, Adeline Myers

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

Ms. Shirley's House, Joshua Hammond

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

This Kind Of Animal, Raegan Blair

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

Tomorrow Is A New Day, Madeline Cronin

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

Whiplash, Jillian M. Canady

Persimmon Creek

Whiplash is an abstract poem that emphasizes emotion and imagery over narrative clarity. Through the juxtaposition of a moth and a neon sign, it delves into themes of struggle and transience, blending surreal elements—sickly slouching figures, flickering candles, and woven snakes—to create a landscape of sorrow and light. With fragmented language and rhythmic shifts, the poem invites deep engagement and personal interpretation, culminating in a sensation of rapid motion and transformation, challenging readers to find meaning within its evocative chaos.

In These Walls, Sofiyah Griffin

Best Integrated Writing

This poem focuses on the hidden stories that people carry in the halls of Wright State.

Middle Eastern Princess, Badia Abdellatif

Best Integrated Writing

This poem reflects the thoughts that cross Babia Abdellatif's mind and soul as she witness the injustices in the world. It brings together a collection of situations that often occupy her thoughts.

An Oath Fulfilled, Fatima Bawaney

be Still

This poem explores the sacred oath of healing as it relates to a physician-patient relationship.

The Glacier, Emily Rodman

be Still

The Glacier discovers the inner workings of a medical student's mind as she devotes years of her life to eventually partake in the "sacred oath of healing." She knows that these years of medical training - filled with strife and joy alike - will eventually lead her to fulfill the career of her dreams, serving others.

Poetry On The Mountain: Hiking Moosilauke In A Mood, Elissa Ely

Appalachia

Near the summit of Mount Moosilauke, someone hands a hiker a copy of a Billy Collins poem with a typo.

Editor’s note: We have redacted the quoted lines of the Collins poem. Appalachia’s agreement to reprint part of “Night Letter to the Reader” covers only the print edition of the journal. Physical copies of this issue can be purchased at outdoors.org.

From The Heart: Writing Love Poetry With Ai, Dan Ryan

Open Educational Resources

The chief reason our writing students turn to AI is not "laziness.” It’s fear. This lesson plan helps college students overcome their fear of a first-time poetry assignment by empowering them to partner with “collaborators”—first AI, then each other—to co-write a love poem before finally writing a poem on their own. This 4-hour lesson plan for a college-level Introductory Creative Writing course includes three low stakes drafting and revision assignments, and culminates in a high stakes poetry assignment.

Poetry And Fiction Reading From Introduction To Creative Writing, Cara Dees, Conrad Ligasan, Justice Jackson, Hannah Wagner, Sammi Matias, Mathias Stewart, Reagan Lane, Claire Carrillo, Zander Schirmer

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This poetry and fiction reading features several student presenters from "English 2430: Introduction to Creative Writing" – many of whom are performing their creative work to a live audience for the first time. Whether through poetry or prose, these students' inventive use of language and storytelling will hook you from beginning to end.

Burnout, Amanda Almeida

be Still

I loved writing since I was 12. I learned putting words on paper solidifies the human experience, whether it be through poetry, music, stories, or simply free-writing one's thoughts. Attending medical school has broadened my experience with other realities to an unexpected degree. I realize that wanting to save lives through healthcare comes at a great cost to the person pursuing a career in medicine. Writing about the intensity of medical school helped me cope and I hope that my future patients will come to understand, sometimes, the only way out is through, and coping by using the things we …

Our Web, Alia Abdullah

be Still

Alia would like to acknowledge Ingmar Bergman's film, Through a Glass Darkly.