At Broke-Ass Stuart, we value the unique perspectives of everyone in The Bay Area. This Earth Day, we asked a local award-winning poet to write about their muse, Mother Earth. This poet is Rhiannon Hewitt(R), age 10. We asked her to talk about the impact she felt the last 2 years had on the Earth but also on kids like her.
Earth Day is today, April 22nd. According to some, Covid-times gave the Earth a temporary reprieve from greenhouse gasses. As we go back to “normal”, there are ways we can help our planet. First, we can speak up about the changes we must make or talk about the negative impact we can have on the planet.
Hewitt is nestled in the ferns – photo from Of Water documentary
We all have gone through hell these past two years but being a kid was especially hard. Seeing the world flip upside down with very little control as to how to move forward. During the pandemic, R noticed that, while we were being pushed and pulled around, Mother Earth was showing some signs of healing but there was still chaos all around us.
I write because I want Earth to be heard. Humans are too interlocked in their own affairs. I want to speak up and continue to speak up until we can all do a little more to help the environment.
Hewitt at the banks of a river – photo from Of Waters documentary
As a tribute to Mother Earth, Hewitt wanted to share this piece with you all which hopefully will inspire you this Earth Day 2022.
Stop. Start. Stop.
by Rhiannon Hewitt – age 10
It started when it stopped.A gut wrenching stop.A teeth chattering stop.An unorganized stop.
Math Clubearly morningpencilsfruit bowlkiwi.
Seed explosionjuice down the chinslurps of delight.Uncovering the mysteries of the dreaded triangle.Isosceles.The two square roots are equal to the remaining
STOP
School Playclicking heelsred faced chimney sweeps dancingtoes tappinghappy directors.The new dance will be
STOP
Music Lessonsukulelemade up songsjoyful facesfrustrated teacher.You are my C chord my only C chordYou make me happy when
STOP
Class RoomMuffled answersgigglingBest Friend
STOP
Beachrunning through grassnicked shinsdon’t care.Toes in wet sand water so beautiful that
STOP
In the storesno toilet paper carts overflowinglong linescompetitive shoppers.
Computers arrivedawkward contact on screensbut contact nonetheless
AloneIn my roomAlone.
BirthdayPeople in carsTrumpetcrazy notesposters.
Wave.
Wave.
Wave.
HikingScreenskickboxing.
See friends!
From six feet.Yells of conversation.A masked distance.Booms of musicalsstuffed animals thrown.
Howls in the darkeight o’clock
STOP.
STOP.
STOP.
Cars.No more cacophony of motors.Collecting dust.
START
Earthgathering the silence like rare jewels.
In return,gifts of clean air.Clean water.Endangered animals have room to roam.
START
Whales singingacross the oceanssecrets in the darkness,with no ship engines to intrude.
START
For the first time in a long whileEarth blinks and begins to heal.
START
Fires.Huddling in the dark.Orange sky.Blazes raging.Choking smoke.
It is real.It is.
START
Headlines screaming injustice.Only grains of sand on a beach.There are so many more.Say Their Names.
Do you still?
START
School again.Friends in real life.Made first on screens.Shorter than expected.
Want to go everywhere.Traffic.Existential Crisis.
People Everywhere.Too much.Masked still.It is not the same.
Open Alien World.
Again.
PlanesFactoriesInterrupting shipsPlastics
More.
Earth closes her eyes.
MaybeShe will open them once moreIf we can change a little, every day and
STOP
STOP
STOP
image from Of Water documentary, featuring Hewitt.
About R:
My name is Rhiannon Hewitt. I have been composing poems since I was two years old. When I was five, I performed a poem about ocean acidification in front of my school. At seven years old I performed at the Masonic with Patti Smith, Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon as part of their Pathway to Paris event. Since then I have spoken at climate marches for Extinction Rebellion. In 2019 I was the second-grade winner of the Coastal Art and Poetry contest with the California Coastal Commission.
Last spring I filmed a short movie with my parents, Vita and Bryan Hewitt at the Smith River, which is the last undammed river in California. I got to work with artist Lauren Jade Szabo (I call her Lauren of the sunset) and dancer Lauren Godla (Lauren of the sunrise). In it, I wrote two poems as if I were the river. The film is called “Of Water”.
Of Water 4K teaser from Bryan Hewitt on Vimeo.
The post 10-year-old Award-winning Poet Shares Her Thoughts This Earth Day 2022 appeared first on Broke-Ass Stuart's Website.
