In the Emotionary, this poem is filed under the emotion: Free.

I hold hands with you as

we look beyond the meadows.

I see flickering light bulbs and

cascading petals that have fallen on the sidewalk.

Swaying Minari plants and

the lacy fans of clam shells near the river.

I see the past. The moments of what we were.

Giddy young sisters frolicking whilst dreaming

to fly alongside the soaring sparrows.'

Further on, I see dark clouds and clamorous shouting.

We are at war. Hot tears and breaking voices fill our hearts.

I see the present. The moments where we are exploding.

Simply two provoked and dynamic souls,

clashing like Zeus and Kronos,

above the crumbling terrain we stand on now.

The birds are now on the ground.

They screech in pain as they have fallen from the sky.

Now I see a different view.

We’re drinking our lemon cider and

waving to the willow trees as they sway with us.

I see the future. The moments of what we’ll become.

My head lays on your shoulder as you play

with the dandelion stems beneath your toes.

The birds are in their nest. Not in the sky nor the ground,

but in between.

We move in circles,

and we will return once more.

About the Author

Jennifer Baek is a high school junior from Long Island, New York. Her work has been recognized by Scholastic Arts & Writing, and elsewhere, when not writing, she can be found reading the newest issue of Time Magazine, scarfing down chocolate chip cookies or procrastinating on her homework.