As the new year rolls in, people welcome a plethora of chances for fresh starts and lasting memories. Fostering old relationships and forging new ones, the new year inspires a drive like no other in everyone. With that in mind, these five poems inspire motivation and kindness and provide a shining way to start 2025.
“I feel like it [poetry] opens up your mind to creative influence and reaches a deeper level of emotions than normal conversations cannot. [Poetry helps] to really dig deep down and process hard emotions. Poetry gives me an outlet to express myself and process stress,” sophomore Garcia Turner said.
1. “Shoulders” by Naomi Shihab Nye
In light of the new year, friendships continue to stand strong, paving the way through 2025 by creating new memories and providing joy. While this joy manifests among pre-existing relationships through the poem’s six stanzas, Nye highlights the importance of caring for all people, even strangers. The new year allows time for everyone to foster peace and harmony with others. In light of people’s respective troubles in 2024, finding happiness alongside strangers and promoting goodwill becomes a priority. This poem beautifully illustrates the impact of loving thy neighbor, despite lacking a rhyme scheme, and embodies the spirit necessary to succeed this year.
2. “The World Is A Beautiful Place” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
With 2024 providing various slightly chaotic events, 2025 poses similar threats. While people tend to think of the new year as a complete factory reset, the issues still plaguing the world tend to find themselves on the back burner of society’s mind. In this blunt and slightly disenchanted poem, the issue of forgetfulness stands as a common theme, reminding the reader that even though the world seems beautiful, issues do not disappear simply because of a happy day. This poem embraces the hope of the new year while also focusing on fixing the chronic issues that cause unrest.
3. “On Living” by Nazim Hikmet
As the first week of semester two met its conclusion, the shock set in for students facing intensely rigorous classes and teachers preparing for all new students. After two weeks of break — and hopefully relaxation — the world can come back spinning faster than ever. Staying on top of school, sports and work becomes a struggle for plenty of students as they attempt to find a comfortable rhythm. This poem touches on the quick, yet surreal pacing of life, serving as a word of warning. Live it up, and enjoy the fresh new year, but a mild feeling of unrest always lurks around the corner of the typical hustle and bustle of life. This poem highlights the underappreciated beauty as well. As 2025 kicks into gear, this poem reminds readers to look on the bright side.
4. “A Line-storm Song” by Robert Frost
“A Line-storm Song” poses the idea of perseverance in the face of trials and tribulations. While trying to face 2025 stronger than ever, resilience remains a necessity to succeed this year. This poem beautifully illustrates how pushing through hardships to continue bettering oneself and embracing all the possibilities of the new year requires ambition and perseverance. Frost ends each stanza by calling out to the reader to join him in traveling through the storm to find himself. This not only keeps engagement but also provides a stronger emotional response. By speaking directly to the audience and asking them to act by joining him in the rain, Frost sparks a new wave of motivation, continuing the common theme of resilience.
Motivation stands as one of the key factors for student success. Coming back from a long break, all new classes and teachers students do not know yet can become overwhelming and discouraging. “Time” details the brutal yet comforting pace of life, explaining that the rise and fall of the sun does not slow down for a bad day. Time passes and due dates arrive, however, the consistency provides comfort in the chaos of life. Knowing that the sun will still rise and fall even when nothing else stays provides a cold comfort. If nothing else allows the day to start on a hopeful note, the promise of another day can act as the light needed to push through.
“Poetry inspires creativity for me by leading me to new thoughts and emotions. Poetry does help me release a lot of emotions because I can just write down how I feel at a certain moment if I do not want to talk to someone about it. It helps me get it all off my chest privately. Writing poetry I gain a lot by knowing how I truly feel about a certain situation which in turn helps me fix it,” sophomore Morgan Lackey, said.
As 2025 kicks into full swing, issues from 2024 carry over. Although, in the hopes of a peaceful year, finding a comfortable rhythm and staying motivated remains a surefire way to succeed. On the bright side, people can take lessons learned from poetry and life experience, and apply them to their daily routine in the hopes for a prosperous new year.
