Dear Ocean
Shoreview. MN
2020, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Dear Ocean,
I remember the sound of your voice
In the waves pounding back and forth, pulse of sea foam
Gathering around my ankles.
I remember the coral crowning your head,
Bustling with crimson and saffron fish.
I remember baby leatherback turtles,
And golden sand sifting through my toes.
Dear Ocean,
I no longer hear your songs at night,
Instead my head echoes with your cries for help,
I hear the clawing of polar bears
Struggling to hold onto your glaciers,
The roar of factories, trucks, and hissing machines
Ringing through the air.
I see your bouquets of coral
Wilting like flowers and turned ghostly white.
Your fingers grasping for the coastline,
Your rib cage tangled with plastic debris.
The animals who call you home
Do not work in harmony anymore.
Your sweat pours down,
As glaciers drip drip drip,
Like a broken, leaky sink.
Dear Ocean,
Through you may be frail and hurting,
The damage doesn’t have to be everlasting.
We can revive your beating heart
By walking, advocating, and protesting.
We can be the tiny rock
That ripples outwards, rerouting your waves.
We will use our voices
And battle with our every breath
To restore the beauty and glimmer
Of your once glowing skin.
We will use the glow of our screens
As platforms of change.
The future is built
From our actions and our songs.
Dear Ocean,
I promise we will turn the tide.
Works Cited
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plankton/every-breath-you-take-thank-ocean 
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/01/coral-bleaching-reefs-climate-change-el-nino-environment/
https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/the-link-between-fossil-fuels-single-use-plastics-and-climate-change
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html
Reflection
Growing up in a state where there are many lakes within 15 minutes of my home, I’ve seen first-hand how water levels have risen over the years. When I was younger, these lakes would be bustling with people, but nowadays, there’s often nobody there because the lakes are overflowing with algae, and the beaches are soaked in the water. Though I’ve only been to the ocean once, researching these issues have opened my eyes to just how vast the climate issue actually is. As my research progressed, I felt frustrated about the lack of action surrounding climate change. I was inspired to write this poem because I wanted to express my feelings and bring awareness to this issue. But most importantly, my hope is to show those who think climate change is irreversible that we can help to fight it. If we all do something as simple as recycling a plastic bottle, that alone can go a long way. No matter where we live, we can bond together to march, educate, donate to eco-friendly organizations, and put effort into reducing our carbon footprint. Many youth are already advocating to better our world, and this gives me hope that we truly can fight climate change. I’ve gained much more awareness for the future of our planet, and I know that going further, I will work to cut down on plastic waste and volunteer for eco-friendly organizations. I also hope to continue using art to bring attention to climate change.