this poem is for you

i dedicate this poem to every student

who wanted to write

but who felt constrained

by writing on demand,

artificial light,

and other intimidating writers in the room

you wrote anyway

knowing words on the page

sometimes sing, sometimes shout,

sometimes scare, and sometimes soothe

this is for the student who dreams of living in an alcove

writing with a feather dipped in India ink

writing in spite of the voices in her head

who extinguish the hope of writing to be read

you just keep on writing

every one of you

show those voices

those faces

you will be heard

your imprint will change the world as we know it

you’ll write a song of hope and peace that will empower

men to set aside their arms

love the life of strangers even as self

you’ll make the words wrap

around the lonely

warm the cold and forgotten

I hear your voices even now

—Freeda Richardson