'What is Love?' Winners' Series: 10th-12th Grade Poetry, 1st Place, Yassier Payano

02/21/2012

In December, the Youth Voices Network held their 4th Annual Writing Contest for youth. Teens from all over New York City sent in their poems, essays and short stories of what their idea of love is. After a difficult judging process, the winners have been chosen and Day One held the reading and award ceremony for these budding young writers this past January 27th. In honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we will be posting these beautiful, hopeful and best of all, healthy depictions of love on our blog every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in February.

Poetry: 10^th through 12^th grade: 1st Place: Yassier Payano

"What's Love?"

What's Love?

Love is a 4-letter word that many don't understand

        But try to analyze,

Love is a sensation or high

        But it pulls you down like gravity,

Love is a hidden shadow

        But you can still feel its presence,

Love is an unexpected blow

        But an even less expected recovery,

Love is the fire that lights the match of hope

        But deceit hoses it down,

Love is an unforgettable feeling

        But a feeling many wish to forget,

Love is an uncontrollable feeling

        But it can also control you,

Love is hugs and kisses

        But it's also yelling and arguing,

Love is days of work

        But it's also nights of passion

Love is fate's puppet

        But sometimes we don't look past its strings,

Love is a risk

        But a risk worth taking,

Love is the strong man's weakness

        But it's also the weak man's greatest attribute,

Love is a lost treasure

      But many don't find it, so they ask themselves. . . What's love?

Categories: Voices