Teen Ink: Teen Magazine, Poetry, Blogs, College, Music, Movie & Book Reviews, Fiction

Teen Ink
Print Magazine >

Current Issue

Past Issues

Download Sample

Submit Work

Submission Guidelines

Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul Book - Real-Life Stories by Real Teens

« Previous Article

Poetry Index

Next Article »

Fluorescent Light

Rate this article:

FLUORESCENT LIGHT

fluorescent light
that is the color of my life.
it glares at you
and you shut your eyes
it gives you headaches
and you moan in pain.
it's not like the color of sunshine
outside,
it has no warmth
nor smell.
and when you go back inside
(for nothing can stay sunny sunshine bright)
it is blinding,
the contrast so astounding.
yet every day it's there,
trying to guide
trying to shine
trying to keep its head above the water -
above the darkness.
fluorescent light
that is the color of my life.
it shines ever so dimly,
pathetically,
but then you would never want to hollow out your eyes,
and drown in the darkness.

by Mai G., Short Hills, NJ

This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly magazine.

« Previous Article

Index

Next Article »

Advanced Search

I want to find:

Written articles only
Images only
Written articles AND images

Article title:
Words within article:
Author's screen name:
Author's first name:
Author's last initial:
Author's city:
Author's state:
Author's country:
Section of website:
Where to search:	Teen Ink Teen Ink RAW

Image keywords:
Type of art/photo:
Subject matter:
Artist's screen name:
Artist's first name:
Artist's last initial:
Artist's city:
Artist's state:
Artist's country:

Title:
Screen name:
First name:
Last initial:
City:
State:
Country:

Report a Bug or Broken Link

Teen Ink PO Box 30 Newton, MA 02461 (617) 964-6800 editor@teenink.com
Copyright 2009 by Teen Ink, The 21st Century and The Young Authors Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher: The Young Authors Foundation, Inc.

Teen Ink is a national teen magazine, book and website featuring teen writing, information, art, photos, poetry, teen issues and more. All articles are written by teen authors who are students at schools. The monthly print magazine is appropriate for any teenager -- teenagers age 13 to 19 attending secondary school: junior high school, middle school and high school. This publication is used by professional people including English teachers, writing teachers, language arts instructors, journalism teachers, school newspaper advisors, librarians, guidance counselors, K-12 principals in addition to the PTA or PTO. Each issue of Teen Ink magazine contains a wide variety of student work: we publish nonfiction, fiction, poems, community service, sports, heroes, interviews, college essays, college reviews, book reviews, concert reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, video reviews, video game reviews, the environment, opinion, sports, pets, cars, automobiles, travel and culture, jobs and money, health issues, artwork, photographs, cartoons, short stories, essays, writing contests, a college directory and the website also has a bulletin board and resources for teens and educators. Subjects include racism, eating disorders, depression, death, suicide, family, relationships, jobs, grandparents, violence, the college process, college information, colleges, driving, self esteem, the arts, movies and more. Teen Ink is also a book series published by HCI Teens. Subjects covered in the book include Friends, Fitting In, Love, Challenges, Family, Heroes, Loss and Memories. Teen Ink was established in 1989 as The 21st Century magazine by The Young Authors Foundation, a nonprofit organization. More than 25,000 teens have been published in the magazine and its companion Poetry Journal. Teen Ink runs a London Summer Program for teenage writers.