Dear Reader, I am thrilled to share this anthology "Looking back, moving forward" with you. Inside you will find a collection of exceptional poetry written by primary and secondary students across nine different Education in Motion (EiM) schools around the world. From Beijing to Shanghai, Seoul to Switzerland, these poems embody the diverse voices, thoughtful nature and incredible talent that exists across our international community. Curating this anthology has been both a challenge and a joy. I received an abundance of submissions - hundreds, in fact. I'd like to start by saying thank you to everyone that sent work through this year and to offer my apologies to anyone that didn't make it into this collection. The work was exceptional - seriously impressive - and each piece that didn't make it in was still a testament to the passion and creativity of its author. Please know that your warmth, personality, and genuine care shone through in your words. I wish I could have fitted in more! For those that did make it - well done! This second anthology marks another step forward in our collective literary journey and I'm so proud of the work that's been produced. Some of these poems delve into personal triumphs and losses, offering poignant reflections on life's journey. Others contemplate our existence, questioning the paths we tread. And in the spirit of youthful exuberance, you will find also passionate pieces that critique even the most mundane of things. It's the variety and ambition of these pieces that I love the most. Getting the opportunity to travel and work face-to-face with students from around the world has been so rewarding - it always reminds me how much we have in common as well as how varied and unique we each are as writers and human beings. Great writers tend to come about thanks to great support and guidance and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all the teachers I got to work with across EiM campuses this year for helping on this project. I always feel so fortunate to get to work with such ambitious, compassionate, and inspiring teachers. Your unwavering commitment to nurturing creativity has played a significant role in the outstanding quality of the work presented here. I am also very grateful to Edgar Zillmann at EiM, whose high standards, compassion for others and tireless efforts in making these projects come to life blow my mind every year. I'd also like to acknowledge and thank Jenni Harrison for her invaluable copy editing support - thank you for ensuring that each poem in this collection shines as brightly as it does. This anthology stands as a testament to the extraordinary achievements of these young budding writers. It is a testament to their dedication, creativity, and unyielding spirit. I've loved working with them and reading their work - now it's your turn. As you immerse yourself in their words and embrace their stories, I hope you'll enjoy these poems as much as I have. With heartfelt gratitude, Mark Grist