Hopes Amongst the Haunted
Gainesville, FL
2024, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
It is haunting,
The image of such deserted land where there once was bewildering love
And the stars look down in shame at what we have become
Because our prints are unerasable even from above
Seas begin to swallow the shores on which we let our bodies rest
Where our backs once grazed the warmth of the sand, the sun beaming on our chests
Tides break in waves of anger, grieving the loss of what the horizon once was
And all there will be to blame is us
It becomes harder and harder to breathe
As we suffocate on this land that was once so welcoming
And all we want to is to leave
But the winds keep wrestling
The ice that kept our memories frozen in time now melts in drowning rapids
And we forage through barren woods for remnants of the past like rabbits
Hopping from each mistake to the next until our world is just shattered pieces
Reflecting on the thawing ice and it’s water creases
What used to be a comforting warmth is now a scorching heat
We begin to feel dizzy, sweat beading down
Until all we hear is our own sinking heartbeat
We pretend to be shocked, asking for forgiveness to a world that has lost a way of its own
I wish I could fix it all myself but everything I do feels microscopic
When I know that the damage goes further than the measure of the tropic
Yet, I continue to reuse and reshape my broken toys
In hopes of saving this world that had brought us such joys
I lifted my foot off from my ship’s pedals
Just to once again feel summer’s clear skies
To see flowers bloom instead of seeing their fallen petals
And for it be us, not the seas that rise
It is haunting,
That what should have been protected all along now needs saving
But a new path we are paving
As I strive, I keep the songs of birds in my mind
So that I can give back to this earth who has been so kind
Reflection
Throughout my writing process, I was inspired by childhood memories of playing outside and how painful a world without such happy moments would be. As I wrote this poem, I realized how similar art and nature are and began to compare them. They are so alike in their capability to fascinate and inspire one to look beyond one's limitations. Both art and nature should be preserved and cultivated because they are what give us hope and a culture to hold on to during the dark times. I hope that those who read my poem realize that though their actions may seem small they can lead and build up to a stronger impact. I also wish that people will read my work and feel motivated to appreciate nature with every opportunity presented.