Natasha's poetry

Natasha was recognized in 2001, when she was just an eighth grader, as an International Poet of Merit.

Natasha explains how she began writing poetry:

I was really young when I began writing poems. In the fifth grade I wrote small poems and was inspired to write more.

I write from experiences, changing of the seasons and relationships of people and friendships.

I come up with the ideas and write about them. Maybe I have a feeling or am inspired by something, and I write about it. Lots of times on airplanes I will have time to write about different emotions.

It’s not hard for me to write poetry.

I just signed up for a class – Reading and Writing Poetry – for next year. It looks at different types of poetry.

I also like to read poetry. I’ve read at anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions.

Her poems

First segment of poems:

What a nice day
Its a new bright sunny day as I look outside
The flowers are blossoming with a new pride
The sun still continues to shine
Everyhting has fallen into the rhythm of time
The grass is still fresh from the morning dew
The sky is lit up to a buttery blue
Butterflies fluttering in their bright colored coats
The waves in the pond ripple from the little sail boats
Everything is happy and quiet at heart
What a nice day, what a nice start

All I need
All I need is one more chance
One more time to fly and dance
All I need is some more time
To realize what isn't mine
All I need is one more friend
One more person to defend
All I need is one more star
It is a guide, though it's still very far
All I need is one more guy
Another silly boy that makes me cry
All I need is one more kiss
One more that leaves me feeling like this
All I need is one more day
To realize why I feel this way
All I need is you to stay
No more lies, don't go away
All I need is something more
All I need is what I had before
All I need is something that needs me too
I guess I'm wrong, I thought I needed you

Look behind
Look behind what you see
Do you think you really see me
What is the meaning, who am I
How do you know that I'm not a lie
Look beyond the shooting stars
All you need is your mind and you will go far
Look at the people you think that you know
Are you for sure you know which way to go
Try to look inside
The truth always hides
It takes your mind, not your eyes
To know if something is a lie
You think you hold the answer key
You think you know everything about me
But tell me what would you
If I looked behind the meaning in you

Me
I am all that I can be
And all that I can be is me
So when I want a different me
There is no possibility
When I want to change me for you
There is nothing that I can do
So if you want to see the real me soon
Then just look right in front of you
And whatever you may see
Is me

Who am I
I do not know
Which way is the right way to go
When is it time to get real and know
Some feelings aren't those you should show
Who am I, why are you asking me
Look in front of you,are you too blind to see
Tell me who I am , and I will believe
What do you think, is this the real me
I used to know me, but that was before
I realize that no one knows me anymore
What do you think I've been waiting for
I want to know you, I want to know more
Have I grown up, Have I really changed
Why is everyone acting so strange
I don't know who I am, a part of me is gone
Now I know you've already moved on
Everyone's far away, they're those stars in the sky
I'm reaching for them, then I stop and remember to think, Who am I

Second Segment:

Butterflies
I remember very clearly what happened from the start
I never knew a stranger could find his way into my heart
The very first day his eyes met mine
I got fiery chills up and down my spine
I remember he was always laughing and smiling every day
I remember making eye contact every time he walked my way
It was one of those connections where all you can do is enjoy
It is one of those childish romances between a girl and boy
When we first made conversation, I felt butterflies
I don't what it is, but I found it in his eyes
Then everyday brought sunshine and each moment helped me see
That he also felt butterflies and found them inside me

Never Regret
When things get hard they're going to get better
When it's cold in your heart he'll give you his sweater
When you think it's over it's only beginning
When you think you've lost you're really winning
When you know it's your chance you'll go for that kiss
When you're feeling alone you're feeling like this
When you never give up you never forget
You're lost in that feeling, you'll never regret

Memories
How can we forget the tears we shed?
When we weep in our pillows, on our bed
Those tears streaming down our face
Are forever remembered in our pillowcase
How can we forget the very first kiss?
The one that leaves us feeling like this
Those kisses that we will always miss
Are forever imprinted on our lips
How can we forget when we first held hands?
When we were walking at sunset on the sand
The waves rolled softly and lingered on the shore
The wind whispered in our ears asking for more
The grip of love held together our hands
And is forever remembered by footprints in the sand
How can we forget when we looked at the stars?
So much time in the world but that moment was ours
The stars were so friendly and I wasn't shy
I'm forever reminded when I look at the sky
These memories we carry with us and never regret
They are too precious to forget
When we move on and we grow old
These stories are not forgotten to be old
Whenever we want we go back in our mind
And one of these moments we try to find
The great thing is you look back when you please
There's nothing more sacred or treasured than remembering those sweet memories

Third Segment:

Darkness
Don't wake me because I'm lost in this dream
This fantasy becomes more real than it seems
As each moment ages in this glimpse of time
Am I really blind or just closing my eyes?
Don't let the light flow
In the dark we are home
This night that takes over
Fades the alone
This image starts to shadow
I stop floating and fall
Tear down these clouds
And the light reveals all
I don't know whether to open these eyes
Or explore the shadows and ignore the sunrise
I blind myself and drift to sleep
The light it fades and darkness keeps

Nothing to Lose
We are on a ride
Up and down
No end in sight
No smile or frown
These twists in turns
They take control
Now it's your turn
Give those dice a roll
Don't stop this game
We've just begun
Just one more round
Don't stop the fun
You make a move
I'm watching you
I'll start to play
Don't look away
You seem to forget the rules
It looks like I'm playing by my own
Why are you so afraid to lose,
Afraid that you will be alone
I show no mercy when I play
I would never cut you any slack
And no there is no way
There is no way you'll take me back
I know you want what you can't have
But what am I supposed to do
Every time you run after me
I turn around and run towards you
But always we play these games
And you always leave me wondering why
You are afraid that it will be the same
And then I know you will say goodbye
You never know what you want
But I guess that's your choice to choose
Because that way you will never get hurt
When there's nothing you want, there's nothing to lose

Hope
Sometimes things will fall apart
And leave us with a broken heart
Other times they will come together
Leaving us wishing they would stay that way forever
Sometimes things get worse, but then they get better
The cold outside is frightening but we find warmth in a sweater
Sometimes everything seems to go wrong
Those times when no one wants to get along
But other times we can't be more satisfied
Pretty soon we are laughing off all the tears that we've cried
Sometimes it seems only bad things will come
Those times we forget where the happiness came from
Through sickness and health, through thick and thin
We have to remember the light is within
We never know when we will get into a fight
But at least there's always a way to make it right
Sometimes it seems we are hungry for more
But at least there's still food behind the pantry door
So when the world seems like it's coming to an end
Look within yourself, the light is your true friend
The light will heal your wounds, it will help you cope
You are never alone, you always have hope

Today
We aren't who we were yesterday
Yet we haven't reached ourselves in tomorrow
All we can do is proclaim who we are today
And mixed identities we borrow
We aren't who we were ten years ago
Yet we seem to look far beyond that
All we can do is hope to know
Who we are in the future and past
We aren't who we were when we were young
Yet commitments are made 'till we're old
Already next year's song has been sung
And the burning sun slowly grows cold
We aren't who we were because time has passed
Lifting the wool from our eyes
All of a sudden, forever doesn't last
And the truth abandons all the lies
We aren't who we were because feelings have changed
Leaving us here in today
The tomorrow in us will slowly become strange
To whom we were yesterday