Invisible Memorandum
Hanover, MD
2023, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Climate Hero: Sarah Nicolls
In a crowd of buzzing people
Holding signs high above their heads
They declare our Earth is in trouble
With words clanging against each other
And drowning out the purpose of it all
As their sounds mix and fade away
I hear something behind the yelling
As a momentous rhythm pulses through
My mind when I close my eyes and listen
Patiently to a stirring melody playing
In a hidden background
I see a woman before a piano
Ebbing and flowing with the song
Her hands play the keys
And the keys make sounds that follow
The peoples’ urgent voice and purpose
That we must change our ways
I feel moved as the quiet song
Blends with the loud protests
With a unified message
Not in words
But through music
Reflection
Reflection
Whether it be singers, composers, or instrumentalists, they all have helped relay feelings that cannot be conveyed through words. As a result, I wanted to feature a hero who is often overlooked in the climate change movement: Sarah Nicolls and her music. I began this poem with the visualization of a protest that then transitioned into a pianist playing a song. The idea is that words can relay information, but music will always fill in the gaps with emotions, such as excitement, suspense, or disgust. When I was looking for ideas for this project, I stumbled upon a pianist named Sarah Nicolls, and I was immediately fascinated by her composition “12 Years.” I could not help but pause to listen to the conversations of environmentalists that were intertwined with the piano piece. The key changes and dynamics made the message clear, which is that we must quickly act in the fight against climate change. It is important that we find eco-friendly alternatives to our lifestyle, but before that, people must be aware of the danger that climate change poses. From this poem, I hope people understand that they can warn others about Earth’s crisis through not just signs and protests but also through music, as shown by Sarah Nicolls.