By: Shannon Boatwright
I’m only going to write a short note here and let the poem and performance do the speaking and inspiring. As a middle school Drama teacher, I quite often am impressed with the talents of the young, brilliant minds that I have the honor of teaching.
This past year I taught a lesson on soapbox rants that produced many astounding written works and performances. The one I’m sharing here is by one of my 8th grade honors drama students that I’ve taught since she was in the 6th grade. Graycen Bozard has proven to be not only a talented actress, but also a very talented writer. Upon reading her first soapbox submission, it touched and impressed me so much that her words inspired an entire piece for our big end of the year show. She, being her toughest critic, didn’t think it was that great and proceeded to write a different soapbox – which also was so good that I was able to convince her to perform it in our show. She also wrote some of the scenes in our show, adding a genuine feel to the teenage representation that was a theme in our production. But the piece I’m sharing here is quite touching and profound, considering it’s written by a 13-year-old.
I’m very proud of her work and feel very honored to share it. – Shannon
Written by 8th Grade Honors Drama Student, Graycen Bozard
I see humans but no humanity
The things we do are nothing short of insanity
we kill, we rob and we take
the things we do should make your heart break
but it doesn’t explain the things I am saying
They are just like a record playing
you’ve heard them before
why should they mean more?
how about because what I’m saying is real
what can I do to make you feel
I could say something cheesy
like changing the world is easy
or that it’s something anyone can do
but that simply isn’t true
I hope you don’t ever feel the core of the emotion
or that the pain is deeper than an ocean
bad things happen I know it won’t stop
but we may be able to get its numbers to drop
I may be a bit of a dreamer
some might even say schemer
but I know the difference between right and wrong
I know what it feels like to have to stay strong
there are do’s and dont’s
can’ts and won’ts
I know there are rules that we live by
but does that mean that we can’t try
I am just one person I can’t do much
this is a dream I’ve only begun to touch
this planet holds dangers
so we need world changers
but you can’t judge the ocean by the parts that reach the sand
maybe this is just too hard for kids to understand
now that I’ve said all these beautiful words
about how nothing’s impossible we can fly with the birds
we need a way
not just a say
how about we start with a smile
It might take awhile
but why not?
if it was happiness we sought
then maybe the world would change
on a much wider range