I made it a game to find all the clothes that bore the tag “Made in India” whenever my mother took me to the mall.
As a girl whose life was defined by her extensive skirt collection and reruns of “Say Yes To The Dress”, I determined at a young age that there was no greater high than rummaging through department stores, envisioning my next outfit. At the same time, I knew that these escapades could only satisfy one of...
The smell of wet earth. The hiss of water on brick. And then, if I waited long enough, tiny sparks would rise from the garden, blinking through the night like the sky had spilled its stars....
Reviewed by: saraahcats (United Arab Emirates) Winner
May 7, 2025
What about this piece of writing do you admire, and why? Perhaps the voice or tone sparks a memory? Or does the word choice inspires you to pause and reflect?
I admire how your voice sounds so real and honest, it didn’t feel like I was reading an assignment, it felt like you were just talking to me. The way you describe your memories in nature made me pause and think about how much has changed around my home too. I liked how you mixed your emotions with facts, it made me care more.
Reviewed by: Srini C. (United States) Honorary Mention
Apr 10, 2025
What’s your favorite line? Why?
This is quite hard! There were so many lines that left a lasting impact on me as a reader, and especially since many of the complex ideas this piece develops are written across many lines. However, if I had to choose one in particular in regards to how much it does for the poem, how it develops the ideas in the poem, and finally, my belief that it is a powerful tool for the "spoken" aspect of the piece, my favorite line would be "Look". As I said before, it does an...
So this is multiple lines: "Focus up hun" I hear the teachers say
You turned in an assignment late, again
I had the work done, but I forgot to click turn in
There's 50% late points gone with the wind." But I love the way it brings us into the narrators world while keeping a loose rhyme scheme.
Reviewed by: SkyDare (South Africa) Honorary Mention
Mar 23, 2025
In a sentence or two, how would you summarize what this song is about and/or the impression you are left with after reading/hearing these lyrics?
Appreciate our world. The song invites us to 'fly up', therefore remove ourselves from our own perspective to view ('see') the earth from above and the beauty of it.
In a sentence or two, how would you summarize what this song is about and/or the impression you are left with after reading/hearing these lyrics?
This song feels like a mix of longing and heartbreak. It is about wanting someone who does not see you the same way, even though you give them every reason to.
In a sentence or two, how would you summarize what this song is about and/or the impression you are left with after reading/hearing these lyrics?
This song effortlessly conveys what it is like to be attracted to someone who you know would never feel the same way, and in this case this scenario is same-sex attraction. This song is so relatable, charming, and poignant and captures the very essence of this feeling, and I love it so much!!
Reviewed by: Noble Jane (United States) Honorary Mention
Feb 14, 2025
How does the writer draw you into the op-ed? What makes you want to read on?
The hook - "wanna know the latest tea?" did make me click. And by doing so, forced me to open my eyes to the point the reader was arguing. It was so clever, and so beautifully written, I immediately read on. While most of the op-eds I've read so far have seemed bland, or borderline boring, this one definitely was full of rich details and a storyline that kept me reading, hanging on each word. Wonderful job <3
How does the writer draw you into the op-ed? What makes you want to read on?
As a fellow homeschooler, I can relate to a lot of this. I agree with your viewpoint, yes, but I also kept reading because I wanted to see what points you would make going through this. And may I say, I was not disappointed! You've clearly given this topic a lot of thought, and worked hard to put together this piece. Great work! :)
What impression does this poem make on you, as a whole? What feeling are you left with at the end?
This is by far the most enjoyable poem I have read among submissions to the Nature Poetry Competition 2025. From the beginning, the author captures the audience's attention with an instantly amusing title* that both alludes to Harper Lee's novel (perhaps) and gives readers a sense of what to expect in the rest of the poem. The tone of the piece is consistently humorous. There are multiple instances of juxtaposition and auditory imagery. While many poems with en...
What impression does this poem make on you, as a whole? What feeling are you left with at the end?
Hi, Grey! Great job on this poem! I'm so excited to review it. :)
In this poem, I think you've beautifully captured the feeling of longing for the 'trees behind'. I'm also more of a forest girl myself, so I can certainly relate to that.
Reading through this poem builds a beautiful picture in my mind's eye of standing in a forest, and just being, around all the wonderful sounds, smells, colours that the forest might have to offer.
What aspect of this short story most draws you into the narrative and makes you want to keep reading?
The emotional depth of the story is what draws me in the most. The way the author explores the complexities of fandom, online relationships, and the consequences of public judgment is captivating. The sudden shifts in perspective—especially the revelation about the anonymous friend—keep the reader hooked, wanting to know how everything will unfold.
Reviewed by: EleanorMarie❤ (United States) Runner Up
Oct 28, 2024
Which aspects of this short story most drew you into the narrative? And which aspects scared you and/or kept you in suspense?
The way you tell the story, using "you" instead of other more commonly used pronouns was fantastic. What kept me in suspense were the little hints you dropped, as you moved through lyrical lines. The way you portrayed Regret and Exams as living beings gave me chills.
Which aspects of this short story most drew you into the narrative? And which aspects scared you and/or kept you in suspense?
I've loved hiking since I was a kid, I spent a lot of my childhood hiking with my mom. I think lots of other people hike, so that makes it a sort of relatable thing, "What if that was me? I hike all the time!" In my opinion, relating to a story is what draws readers in. The scariest movies and stories are ones that are realistic, that make you anxious because they could happen to you. The way of writing also contributed to that, this writer has a huge talent when it comes t...
What about this piece draws you in and makes you want to read on?
I love how you open with the imagery of human development, describing the journey from a zygote to a fully formed fetus. This immediately hooked me because it made something as complex as fetal development feel relatable and awe-inspiring. The way you integrate metaphors, like comparing stem cells to job applicants, is very creative and effective in simplifying a difficult concept while keeping it interesting. I especially appreciated how you built anticipation b...
Reviewed by: sam the indigo (United States) Honorary Mention
Sep 5, 2024
What about this piece draws you in and makes you want to read on?
Stars are, of course, a huge draw for writers like us, since they're the quintessential object of wonder, poetry, etc. And while a lot of people think they know some of the science behind stars, I learn something completely new and unexpected every time I read something about them. You add interest by going a step further; you take the concept of stars shining for billions of years and shedding light beyond their deaths and move forward to explain sub-classes of...
I made it a game to find all the clothes that bore the tag “Made in India” whenever my mother took me to the mall.
As a girl whose life was defined by her extensive skirt collection and reruns of “Say Yes To The Dress”, I determined at a young age that there was no greater high than rummaging through department stores, envisioning my next outfit. At the same time, I knew that these escapades could only satisfy one of...
It used to come with the rain.
The smell of wet earth. The hiss of water on brick. And then, if I waited long enough, tiny sparks would rise from the garden, blinking through the night like the sky had spilled its stars....
home within the thick-veined trees, the cicadas sing again.
maybe that is why my father stops the car in the middle of the road...
they were simple, really
not much of a recipe, just...
I have a guy friend who’s nice and funny
When he looks at you he looks at you with puppy dog eyes
The signature look of a boy just starting to hit puberty...
The Dream
the first thing my father bought in America was a grill...
This is quite hard! There were so many lines that left a lasting impact on me as a reader, and especially since many of the complex ideas this piece develops are written across many lines. However, if I had to choose one in particular in regards to how much it does for the poem, how it develops the ideas in the poem, and finally, my belief that it is a powerful tool for the "spoken" aspect of the piece, my favorite line would be "Look". As I said before, it does an...
This is by far the most enjoyable poem I have read among submissions to the Nature Poetry Competition 2025. From the beginning, the author captures the audience's attention with an instantly amusing title* that both alludes to Harper Lee's novel (perhaps) and gives readers a sense of what to expect in the rest of the poem. The tone of the piece is consistently humorous. There are multiple instances of juxtaposition and auditory imagery. While many poems with en...
I've loved hiking since I was a kid, I spent a lot of my childhood hiking with my mom. I think lots of other people hike, so that makes it a sort of relatable thing, "What if that was me? I hike all the time!" In my opinion, relating to a story is what draws readers in. The scariest movies and stories are ones that are realistic, that make you anxious because they could happen to you. The way of writing also contributed to that, this writer has a huge talent when it comes t...
I love how you open with the imagery of human development, describing the journey from a zygote to a fully formed fetus. This immediately hooked me because it made something as complex as fetal development feel relatable and awe-inspiring. The way you integrate metaphors, like comparing stem cells to job applicants, is very creative and effective in simplifying a difficult concept while keeping it interesting. I especially appreciated how you built anticipation b...
Stars are, of course, a huge draw for writers like us, since they're the quintessential object of wonder, poetry, etc. And while a lot of people think they know some of the science behind stars, I learn something completely new and unexpected every time I read something about them. You add interest by going a step further; you take the concept of stars shining for billions of years and shedding light beyond their deaths and move forward to explain sub-classes of...
