by A. Hernandez, 8th
Long live the people who got
Through separation and rough paths

Long live the people who are brave.
Homes, friends, family, and pets were lost far away.

And though it’s not my loss,
It’s reflecting through my life’s mirrors.

Long live my parents
Who are breaking walls by growing flowers.

Long live me
Although I try to break my walls,
I’m still trying to plant my seeds.

by J.Hernandez, 10th
When I pedaled my bike into the redwoods, getting pushed forward by the wind their bodies caught, it felt like their captivating height and never ending leaves were welcoming us with branches that became open arms. They hovered above and gave the sky a new face. All around, the redwoods gave life to any empty space. They told a story
Simply
by standing.

The redwoods slowly seemed to become the sky and were now the creators of the rainfall. Their tree trunks glistened despite there no longer being sunlight.

Every branch and every piece of the redwoods home became a landing point. Making every rain drop seem to fall a little slower. Like it was their way of telling us to appreciate them for a little longer and just a bit harder. Every time a drop landed a new ocean was created with the sound of sharp waves. Splashing, each time louder than the last.
The rain drops decorated
what already was.
Added color
despite being colorless
and provided with chances
for new songs.

When the skies were dry once again, mixing green and blue with a little bit of light, rays of sunshine shot through any opening of leaves covering the sky. They came as stripes filled with warmth. Not everything was touched, shadows still lurked on pieces of the land but every place that was, was splashed with a new shade of unnamed color. The rays of sun gave light to different parts of the trees. Their previously inconspicuous growth marks became the spotlight for many. Layers of brown formed like the stripes on a tiger and patches of different textures were created. The trees growth marks are the leftover stains of threatening fires but also the reminder of the trees constant resilience to just
Keep
growing.

We are not the only ones with beautiful stretch marks.

These redwoods carry a lot on their shoulders and hold many stories all over. The stories grow each time a new one rises. The community strengthens each time a new one climbs through the earth’s soil. The roots spread farther and form more intersections. The roots don’t go deeper than 10 ft but go as far as they need to. Redwoods grow on connection.
Redwoods grow
until they become
the sky.