HATTIE SAUER, AGE 13

In the window sill, there is a jar,

Although it may have a little scar,

The jar holds strong,

It holds the memories from my past,

Making room for all that will pass.

Up and at ‘em at 4 in the morning,

The sun has yet a new aborning,

Putting on my neon orange,

And the boots that almost fit,

Getting in the truck, barely awake,

Hiding in the corn stalks

Making a maze

Seeing the birds swooping in

Getting ready for the big win.

The breeze in my hair,

Blowing it everywhere,

The smell of the earth,

That makes life all worth,

The sound of the waves crashing into the shore,

It’s almost like I’ve been here before,

Swinging in my hammock, dear,

Reading a book for all to hear,

Getting up after a snooze,

And it’s time to put on my shoes,

Go to the bank,

And cast my line,

Hoping to catch my dinner,

All mine.

Stomach turning,

People yearning,

You hear the starter’s gun,

It’s time to run,

Pound pound pound,

It’s time to pass,

Let’s hope that I can last,

Hearing the crowd,

Chanting loud,

Seeing the end,

My legs might mend,

Finishing strong,

Maybe I was meant to do this all along,

The sun is setting,

It’s getting dark,

Begging to stay outside,

Or else I’d cried,

Lightning bugs all around,

Barley making a sound,

Click, click, click

Family near,

Friends dear,

Storing this fire in my jar,

So that it won’t be so far,

Bringing a light to my day,

So that it can always stay.

Editor’s Note:  We created Future Focused, a new Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation an opportunity to share their voices. Partnering with Dana Hogan, the Extended Learning Program teacher at Decorah Middle School, we offered prompts around the idea of abundance for this issue (and Dana had the genius idea of a metaphorical “Abundance Jar”). Students submitted some really great work, and five were chosen for this Inspire(d). Check out the rest of them, and all the Future Focused submissions published so far! Here’s to Listening to the Next Generation!

– Inspire(d) Editor-in-Chief Aryn Henning Nichols