Saturday, November 23, 2024

Thailand's 1st Interscholastic Student Newspaper

the stars in our sky

 

 

the stars in our sky

 

a million stars in the night sky
i know you won’t tell me why
but something’s making you cry

a million stars live in your soul
you, my darling, shine like gold
yet your smile is less than whole

a million stars twinkling up there
maybe you’re just unaware
or simply too tired to care

this feeling never seems to fade
time and space in retrograde
come join, it’s just masquerade

it hovers like a ghastly shroud
the darkness: it lurks and prowls
waiting for my head to bow

most days the world is monochrome
two-dimensional, utterly alone
why does nowhere feel like home?

the light skates across your skin
it shines; a spark, a flame, glowing
all you have to do is let it in

a million stars in this galaxy
yet some still shine for me
is there hope – could i be free?
a million stars waiting for you
someday you’ll be able to
finally enjoy this view.

– by Luanne Poh

Submission Rationale

This piece was written during a time where I struggled with my mental health. It depicts two personas (or "speakers")
having conflicting ideas about self worth & hope - one is weighed down by the heaviness of daily life and has trouble
imagining a world where they feel truly happy, while the other is a source of encouragement that is trying to help them see that
there is light at the end of the tunnel. While the two characters in this piece can be interpreted in a number of ways, I imagine
them to be two sides of a person, the optimistic side ultimately convincing the other to tentatively hope for the better.
Growing up in a fairly traditional Singaporean Chinese household, filial piety and "family-before-self" are some of the most
important lessons to be learned. Conversely, mental health is a taboo topic of sorts. I have had the privilege of meeting people
from all walks of life through my time spent living in other countries, and this has played a large role in helping me understand
mental health & be more willing to start difficult conversations with the people around me, which eventually translates into the
work I create.

By : Luanne Poh

Raise Your Voice: Exploring Youth Identities Entry