Reflection

Reflection

My poem is about the hope that climate activists such as Silvia López Chavez spread through their work. I wrote this epistolary poem in a deeply personal way, and I wanted to encompass the wide variety of emotions we feel when discussing climate change. However, instead of focusing on my climate grief, the highlight of this poem was the connection I felt to Silvia's mural. I loved how she put so much color into "Rise." We tend to think of the ocean as an object or idea and forget that it's alive; healthy ecosystems are full of color. Silvia reminded me that we can make a difference, and actions such as using reef-safe sunscreen, picking up garbage on the beach, and conserving water will help us move toward a better future. In my poem, I wrote about how we must work together, and Silvia's community-centered artwork is a testament to cooperation in climate advocacy. So thank you, Silvia, and all the other climate heroes out there.