Can we come together?
Finalist: Clara Papenfuse
Harrisburg Academy
I scroll through news stories on my phone every night, before I go to sleep.
I read stories of hell, destruction, and violence.
I read stories of help, dance, and violas.
I read everything in between.
I wake up in the morning well rested or not.
I go about my business.
I do my work.
I hear about our president.
I hear about the problems we face as a country.
I wonder how many other people wonder when we’ll come together.
I wonder if we’ll ever face our problems together.
I have hopes, dreams, and visions.
We all share hopes, dreams, and visions.
We don’t want war.
We want to be safe.
We want our loved ones to be safe.
We want a good life.
We want to be happy.
We want our loved ones to be happy.
We want to have others agree with our views,
and us.
We want others to say we are right.
We don’t need to agree.
We need to work together.
For ourselves and our loved ones.
For our country and our world.
But also for our peace of mind,
peace today, and peace tomorrow.