Reflection

I was inspired to compose a poem that addresses the current event, sea level rise, especially because of recent flooding around our island, Oahu. Through my poem, The Overflow, I am hoping to immerse the audience in feelings of joy, comfort, and gratitude when reading the first half of the poem. The beginning stanzas of the poem describe where “we are from.” We, the people of Hawaii, are from the beauty of Hawaii’s beaches, which are not only soothing to feel, see, smell, and hear, but also have the power to bring people together, and facilitate Hawaiian culture. The poem’s volta takes place at the line, “becoming,” where the poem then shifts the audience's attention to the reality of climate change and its effects on Hawaii’s locals through sea level rise and coastal erosion. I hoped to alert readers, and convey a message of urgency by reminding the audience of what loss comes with selfish treatment towards our environment. My research on climate change has reminded me of its reality through factual statistics, and the actions that must be taken in order to allow future generations to experience the joys of the “warm sand that hugs our feet” and the oceans’ ability to form relationships and bring communities together. I will continue to spread awareness about climate change so that others may also become aware of the importance of reducing their carbon emissions.