"Reflections of the Heart: A Journey of Self-Discovery" by Olympia Asche (1st Place Top of Iowa 9th/10th Grade -- Poetry)

Reflections of the Heart: A Journey of Self-Discovery

In the garden of whispers, where shadows dance and play,
I've often been told by the kind, and the bold, what they see each day.
"You are so kind," they say, with warmth in their tone,
"A sweet soul, trustworthy, pretty, you need love of your own. "

Yet, in my quiet moments, when the world fades away,
I ponder on their words, and I struggle to find a way.
For when I gaze into the mirror, who is this stranger that I find?
A visage that smiles back, but a spirit intertwined.

"Undeserving of love," I mutter with a sigh,
The notion clings to my heart like a clouded, heavy sky.
Rude, I might be-oh, how that label stings!
Some may call it a bitterness that an unspoken heart brings.

They see the light in my eyes and the kindness in my heart,
Yet I feel like a tempest, a storm set apart.
Perhaps I am too much, a hurricane of emotion,
Too wild for calm waters, causing endless commotion.

Oh, the irony laced in their sweet-fingered praise,
While I dwell in shadows, lost in my maze.
Each compliment is a reminder, a thorn wrapped in silk,
That kindness and sweetness can ferment into guilt

For when I reach out, wanting connection's sweet grace,
They flinch like a deer caught in the light of my face.
Am I a hiding cloud, or a torrential downpour?
An enigma wrapped in layers, leaving hearts to implore.

"I'm doing something wrong," I whisper, doubting my worth,
Creeping thoughts like vines wound around the bases of Earth.
Do I push too hard? Do I ask too much?
Am I clinging to shadows, or loving with a clutch?

In the silence of nighttime, when all else is still,
I rave to the moon, my soul yearns to fulfill.
"What is love? " I cry to the stars in the abyss.
"Is it kindness or sweetness or some kind of bliss? "

But the cosmos is wise, it listens to my plea,
And whispers, "Dearest one, love's true essence is free.
It lives not in perfection nor a borrowed guise,
It shines through the wounds that manifest in your eyes. "

So I ponder and ponder, turning over these rocks,
Seeking the truths beneath, unearthing love's paradox.
For the fierce heart within me-yes, the one I dismiss­
Is capable of caring even in the depths of my abyss.

Can I trust those voices that sing from the shore,
Or should I question their belief, thinking I'm flawed to the core?
For within me lies a tempest, a fire, a storm,
And kindness may appear but in a less subtle form.

Oh, how they label me "too much" and "a bitch,"
As if my imperfections are a wound they must stitch.
Yet deep down, I wonder, what if my fervor can birth
A new kind of love, a transformative worth?

Perhaps it's a journey, this balance we seek,
Between kindness, sweet laughter, and the depths of the meek.
There's beauty in chaos, in tempests that roll,
A strength in vulnerability, a power in the soul.

So let me weave tales of moments vast and grand,
Of the days filled with laughter, and the times when I stand­
Stranded between love and fear, lost in the fray,
Yet I search for my voice in the light of the day.

Once, I met a child who danced under the sun,
Her laughter like music, unfettered, unrun.
She saved me that day with the magic she spun,
Her innocence shone bright, a true love well-won.

I remember the moment, the joy we embraced,
In her eyes, I saw hope, a love that can't be replaced.
And I thought, perhaps, I'm not just what I see,
But a mosaic of moments, of souls dancing free.

Can I embody her laughter, her zeal for delight,
Transforming my darkness into a flame burning bright?
So I write these reflections, these confessions of mine,
Seeking the truth in the sorrow, the beauty in the line.

I'll step gently forward, shedding layers of pain,
Accepting that kindness is more than a sweet refrain.
Its the grit and the grace, the tears and the smile,
Its the love in the chaos, its the journey, the style.

And as I navigate valleys, each shadow and each peak,
I'll embrace the "too much," the wild, and the meek.
For there lies a beauty in imperfect embrace,
In a heart that still beats, in a soul filled with grace.

I may still falter, stumbling on this way,
But I'll cherish the kindness that leads me each day.
And perhaps, just maybe, there's love in the fight­
In learning to trust myself, in illuminating the night.

So let the world say what it may about me,
I'm more than their words, I'm striving to be free.
In kindness, in sweetness, in moments of strife,
I'll honor my spirit as it dances with life.

For trust must begin at the core of our beings,
And love is the blossom nourished by the feelings.
Through storms and through sunshine, I'll find my own way,
A tapestry woven, in the colors of each day.

And thus I pen this poem, a chronicle of pain,
A journey of truth, where I'll rise once again.
For I am more than the labels that cling,
I am the heart of the rhythm; I am the love that I bring.

With each passing moment, I'll learn to embrace,
The kind, sweet, trustworthy heart that resides in this space.
For though I may stumble, I'll reclaim my own song,
In the landscape of self-love, where I've always belonged.

And as I walk forward, with courage as my guide,
I'll open my heart wide-this love cannot hide.
For though I have often been told of whats true,
In kindness, in sweetness, I'm learning to be-me, too.

So let the winds carry my whispers afar,
Let the stars be my witnesses, my guiding North Star.
And in the hallways of love, I will find my own way,
For the heart of a tempest beats strong every day.

In the mirror of kindness, in the hearts quiet song,
I'll celebrate this journey, for it won't take long.
To unravel the threads of who I am meant to be,
A beautiful tapestry, intertwined with empathy.

For in each of our stories, in each of our fears,
We hold the power to dry all the tears.
So here's to the kindness, here's to the light,
As I dance with my spirit and embrace what feels right.

In the ever-spinning spiral of love and of grace,
I'll treasure each moment, each tender embrace.
For I'm deserving of love, for I'm worthy and true,
And I'll wrap my heart gently, in all that I do.

Now, let the world know of this journey I take,
Where kindness and honesty meld just like a lake.
In the stillness of waters, I find the great peace,
A promise to love myself, that will never cease.

And so, in this poem filled with vivid hues,
May my spirit find rest and my heart find the muse.
For love is the answer, the treasure we seek,
In the silence and whispers where kindness can speak.