by Ava Santos, 16
the vitality of all wondrous things
woven in the pulchritudinous,
radiant colors of nature that are
drawn toward the sun.
but you watch as wings
flutter—taking flight just before you
as you watch from the sidelines.
it makes me curious to know:
of just how all
beautiful things come
to be?
in fact, we are surrounded by
creatures upon creatures!
yet we are infinitesimal
compared to even the
heart of this world.
and we remain clueless
in relation to the intricacies
that we call life.
and we might ask:
how does this all work?
and to that, we can only learn,
soaking up every drop
of knowledge we can sip,
every leaf of experience
we feed off of,
and every silky strand of openness
we wrap around ourselves.
i contemplate on whether i could
immerse myself in the complexities;
in pursuit of the greatest transformations
for much of this grows much larger
than myself.
but i know that one day,
i am gonna grow wings
Neptune City, New Jersey
This piece won THIRD PLACE in our 2026 Voice & Verse Writing Contest, poetry ages 15-18 category.
Judge’s Note: “one day i am gonna grow wings” is a piece that bases itself on its vital curiosity. It is refreshing to see a poem that takes a positive view on existentialism!
Bridge Ink 