The Sound of Hope
Frisco, TX
2024, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
In the summer heat we felt a change
Air filled with warnings that we missed.
Our stream, once vivid, started to fade,
Due to signs that we dismissed.
We remembered the park, clean and fresh,
Its trees, a refuge from the scorching sun.
Now a few stand bare, under distress,
Their withered branches whisper what’s begun.
At fifteen we discovered “climate change”,
Read articles with endangered islands and coasts,
In our community, it set the stage
Of an uncertain future with many woes.
At school we talked about the rising and dangerous seas,
Of remote shores and global pleas.
But it was here, in our backyard,
That we felt that urgency, that calling, that unease.
Wemadeagroup, the voices young and strong,
We held cleaning days, with everyone busy and determined,
The smell of damp earth and rotting leaves,
As we cleaned the creek, bagging debris.
Cold water splashed our skin,
The sight of clear water was slowly coming in,
Believing our actions could ripple out,
Our hearts were lifted by every single win.
Amidst the fears we found light,
The purpose of believing in better ways.
Our teachers shared stories of what could have been,
We dreamed of bright tomorrows and endless days.
It’s not easy to face a warming world
But in every challenge, new paths start to emerge.
In every little act a seed is sown,
In every voice, the sound of hope.
Reflection
One place that is meaningful to us is the creek behind our community since it provided us with the inspiration for "The Sound of Hope.” This creek was a gathering place for us and our close friends whenever we wanted to go outside. It became a comfortable shelter for us not only during the epidemic but afterward as well. However, during our high school year, we noticed the creek deteriorating, but our knowledge of why this was happening was limited. We learned that the cause of this deterioration, which came from our research on climate change, illustrated how the creek's problems were just a small example of what was happening worldwide. We wrote this poem as a form of activism meant to do more than bring back a memory from our childhood, as well as a way to express people's worries about climate change. The ending of the poem shows our belief in the value of teamwork. Our purpose of the poem was to emphasize the importance of individual acts and the need for a more unified approach to overcome obstacles such as climate change. The last few phrases of the poem act as a call to action, so that readers and communities can come together and realize that their collective effort as a team can make positive changes possible. The “Sound of Hope” is more than just one voice but rather a harmony created by communities working together. This information gives us hope because we think that if we work together, we can create a better future. We've also realized that the land, our communities, and ourselves will all benefit from the improved nature and environment that surrounds us. The creek, which offered friendship refuge in times of need, might now stand for hope for a healthier future.