Youth Reflect on Their Own Resilience and the Resilience of Nature: Desmond’s Poem for Earth Day

This Earth Day as we think of nurturing our planet…make space for a little green. Don’t let the concrete hold you back. Wise thoughts from Desmond, grade seven, who created this artful message during the LEAD program in Vancouver.

The Concrete Garden

By: Desmond

Resilience.

Moss is growing out of concrete. 

Not soil.

Or a dead tree stump.

Literal cement. 

Even to get sunlight

The moss has to break through the cold, hard surface.

Soft moss was never supposed to break through solid stone. 

Yet, the moss still lives

and thrives

even though it is surrounded by industrialized land. 

We are the moss,

us students of Vancouver’s East Side.

And, despite its best efforts, 

the cold concrete can’t hold us back. 

Photo by Teigen, grade seven