This issue of the Orange Island Review is dark.

And while that darkness may rattle and unsettle the adults who read it, it is that very darkness that exposes the undercurrent of anxiety, fear, sadness and anger that the high-school poets showcased in this issue navigate on a daily basis.

The Gen Z poets compiled in this issue were born in an age of terrorism, global economic melt-down, catastrophic climate change, and a sense of community that is more screen time than social time. As such, the poetry in this issue reflects their concerns...