Alyssa Gruenwald

CONTACT:
Website: https://linktr.ee/alyssagruenwald

BIO:
With a strong professional background in graphic design, photography, and visual arts, I also love to write poetry. Innovatively pushing boundaries and meanings through words and mixed media is both a challenge and thrill. I aspire to publish my own collection of poetry as well as write, design, and illustrate children's books.

PUBLICATIONS:
Friends of Whitefish Bay Public Library Writing Contest 2021. 2nd Place Poetry Contest Winner
"A Celebration of Young Poets”. Published Poem.
“Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans". Published Poem.
"Menagerie". Published written works.
Broadsides and postcard poems.

Poetry

2020

2020, a year most prolific
What else could it be?
Has the world gone ballistic?

Death tolls rise,
"“It’s grim and it’s bleak”,
Listening to politics and my TV
speak.

“Go home! You fool!”
In one foot square space,
Live, work, attend school.

Lose, or gain, your independence to
a screen.
Dry or teary eyes.
At the end of each day we try to
wipe all clean.

Yes, I’ve yearned,
For someone to hug.
Yes, I’ve learned,
Sometimes we’ve got to unplug.
There is no normal.
A philosophy to hold true,
For no matter what the distance I
always love you.

Yes, masks are uncomfortable,
Fog our glasses ‘til we can’t see.
Wash our hands so much,
We hope they don’t bleed.

But I appreciated the smell and feel of
smooth foam hand soap.
And in all the pain and isolation,
learn to cope.
Strength is not being strong
It’s knowing we can, and will; go on.

We sing from balconies,
You call me,
And through our thoughts we sort.
”The puppies are home!”
And now so are we.
So lets find solace,
And reflect on a year most
prolific-2020

2nd Place Winner of the Friends of Whitefish Bay Public Library Writing Contest, 2021