05/03/2026
Arianna Shaprow is a teen poet, whose writing has been featured on ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC, and The CW. She focuses on social justice issues and inequities within the system.
My Hero
The military uniform he wears
The memories of death he shares
Yet, after the war
It seems as if no one cares
He tried to be a hero But when he returned home minds were too narrow Their lies devoured his heart and tore his family apart
All he felt was pain
That his life was in vain
The military stole his youth
That's the unbearable truth
Words of patriotism spoken
While promises were broken
Life took its toll on his youth
Stripped away his confidence and truth Now he suffers from unbearable pain and wonders... was his life, in fact in vain?
By, Arianna Shaprow
Poem summary:
This poem explores the trauma many Black veterans face after they return from war. My hope is for our society to address the discrimination and disparities Black veterans face, such as a greater likelihood of denial for VA disability claims, ultimately limiting their access to free healthcare for life and tax-free monthly payments.
The South
When my grandma
Was seven years old
She picked watermelons
Right from the ground
The heavier ones
Were the sweetest
The sweet juice
Spilled out
She slurped it up
As she devoured
The red flesh Of the fruit
Barefoot
My grandma walked across
The rich, fertile soil
She observed the clouds Like enormous waves magnificent Just hanging there
Suspended in the air
Hugging the horizon
Birthplace of the blues Music telling a tragic story
Of oppression
Melancholy
And love
B.B. King
“King of the Blues”
Born to sharecroppers
Home of soul food Crisp crusted cornbread cooked on a cast iron skillet The earthy flavor of collard greens
Cooked with salted ham hocks
Hot sauce
Garlic and onions
Golden brown fried catfish and okra
Heartland of the American Apartheid
Segregation in education
My grandma remembers
Segregated water fountains
Violence and intimidation
Abandoned plantations Covered in graffiti still stand
A horrifying legacy
of racism and slavery
Home of my ancestors
Who were slaves
Small towns, frozen in time
Poverty
Economic disparities
Long after slavery ended
Dusty, empty streets No help coming through no buses coming through Outside the city limits
Towering trees
Red maple
Cypress And oak
Covered by a thick, hazy mist
These resilient trees Remind me
of the possibility for renewal and transformation even within the poorest of communities
Floating clouds flowing rivers and streams
Endless farmland
Brick streets
Beautiful billowing clouds
Like enormous waves
Just hanging there
Suspended in the air
Hugging the horizon
By, Arianna Shaprow
Poem summary:
This poem reflects upon my grandmother’s childhood memories in the south. As a seven year old child, my grandma marvels at the natural beauty. Simultaneously, she observes the poverty and hostility stemming from systematic and structural racism. My grandmother finds beauty in the midst of poverty. This poem signifies the striking duality of her upbringing, and reminds us that there is infinite hope - even in the darkest of times.
