Young Poets 13 to 15 –

"The Quiet Battle" by Karissa Maniyogina

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January 15th, 2026

The Quiet Battle

by Karissa Maniyogina

In the silence of a crowded room,
A storm can rage, unseen by eyes,
Smiles stitched across the cracks,
While heavy hearts wear thin disguise.
A mind can be both friend and foe,
A whisper kind, a voice untrue.
It says, You are nothing, let it go,
Still Life softly calls to you.
The nights stretch long, the thoughts grow loud,
Each breath a fragile, trembling thread.
But even stars must fight through clouds
Before they paint the sky instead.
You are not your darkest thought,
Not every tear you've ever cried.
You are each sunrise yet to come,
The strength still buried deep inside.
So speak your pain, let someone hear –
The weight is less when shared, not stored.
You are needed here, your voice, your light,
A soul the world is waiting for.

About the Poet
Karissa Maniyogina resides in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada.
Read the poet's biography and Young Poets World publications on Karissa Maniyogina's Artist Page.

Young Poets Collection
This poem is also featured in Young Poets Collection #1, published in the Young Poets World Library.

Keywords: silence, resilience, light

Previously published in Young Poets 13 to 15:
Dear Grandma
by Emma Montero Suarez

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