Spoonfuls of moonlight. Cold air. Her knit blanket
tugging at my body to stay.
The fog resting on my shoulders, hugging me.
Summer rain through an open window.
Thunderstorms & how they change the world momentarily
unafraid, or even better, unaware of humans.
Because I left my country broken.
Because I saw the first reflection of myself in a candlelight vigil.
Because I was flickering.
Because we made promises.
Because I can keep trying & no one can stop me.
Peaches.
Stars.
Willow trees.
Acoustic music with a trembling voice.
The kinds of poems that give me shivers.
Trains to nowhere in particular.
Our sweat sweet bodies colliding on wet grass.
Her hands & the way they cradle my heart
as if holding something precious.
August night drives.
Singing along to “Riptide” & eating cherries out of buckets.
Because we promised to return.
To mend a broken thing.
How laughter colonizes the lungs.
To think of myself as something larger than myself.
Because I can love every small thing..
— Kyo Lee, “Why I Have Decided to Live.” (Washington Post Book Club, April 12 2024). Kyo Lee, a student at the Laurel Heights Secondary School in Waterloo, Ontario, won first place in the international High School Writing Contest sponsored by the nonprofit literary publisher Narrative. Entrants responded to the prompt: “My note to the world.”
Listen to Kyo read her poem here.
Powerful and all very valid reasons!
Yes!
😊
Whaddaya mean First Sawsan? Oh. Wait… she must have given you shit outside of the blog 😉
Well… it’s one thing if you only posted weekly… we would have said nothing!
Oh, she went after me like only she knows how about a month ago. And then she disappeared again, Gypsy that she is.
Yeah. She is good at that. Disappearing, I mean. Sometimes mid-conversation!
Exactly! I hear she’s coming to visit you soon. You might get her straightened out.
I heard tell she was, too… I’ll do my best if she manages to squeeze me into her schedule!
La de da!
Hah!
Powerful share from an old soul in a yong person.
So AGREE!
I also agree with you, Val.
“…No one can stop me…” <<< Her words, coupled with her inner, strength & the flowing thoughts, outward… I would say, there is “No Stopping” Her…she is such a talent…with a bright future… (thanks for the introduction, Dave)
Thanks Christie!
Amazing and so so beautiful!
Right!?! There’s hope ahead with our youngsters!
More hope for our youngsters, while fretting about how much we leaving them to repair
What a powerful piece of writing, so beautiful
So agree!!!!
I have her article from Poetry in Voice. I love listening to these students. https://www.facebook.com/100064320174409/posts/.
This is so special. Thank you for sharing.
Agree!
Wow
Right!?!?!?!
so self-aware for such a young age, and beautiful
So true.
What a strong clear voice she brings forth!
What a strong clear voice she brings forth!
Agree!!!!
Such wisdom at such a young age, plus the talent to write it so beautifully. She has the potential to make the world a much better place. I hope that is the path she follows! It certainly sounds like she is headed in the right direction! Thanks for the share Dave.
Agree Paul!