Together We Rise, Together We Fall | Teen Ink

Together We Rise, Together We Fall

October 19, 2018
By kayleighflanagan BRONZE, Stoughton, Massachusetts
kayleighflanagan BRONZE, Stoughton, Massachusetts
2 articles 1 photo 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Be the change you want to see.”


Something must be done,
So that justice can be won.
No more insensitive remarks;
Or fire starting sparks,
Of the hate from so many,
That wears us down like an old penny.

It seems that so little, so few,
Can actually see through,
The transparent glass,
That seemingly separate our class.
“All for one and one for all,”
A neglected rule that sadly is our downfall.

We must band together,
It doesn't matter whether,
You know them or not,
Save one another, cover your blind spot;
We’re all brothers and sisters,
Not your personal battle enlisters.

Work together, never against,
It’s the reason why we’re always so tensed.
No one to brace our fall,
Someone who only makes us feel small.
No one to help when we bleed,
Be the selfless hero we all need.

I wonder why some feel the need to
Belittle and overdo;
Stray from Racism, sexism, and anti-semitism,
And instead bring love, hope, and activism.
If you practice what you preach,
Maybe hatred can be just a figure of speech.

Keep your friends close and enemies closer, they say,
But that’s deceit in a simpler way.
Don’t tear another down,
Never let them drown.
No, we must build up,
Praise and makeup.

Don’t complain or whine;
Leave indifference on the line.
If total equality is what you seek,
You must be ready to speak.
Speak out against the hate,
But only some await.

An open state of mind,
Sadly,  so many have become disinclined.
I question as to why,
The tree of kindness is running dry.
Through thick and thin,
That’s how it should have always been.

If effort is what you require,
Why do we all wait until it becomes dire?
Few of us care about the wellbeing of our peers,
Maybe in fear of the comments and jeers.
That is the precise reason why we need this!
It’s a shame some would rather stay and reminisce.

An endless, brainless, aimless, way
To be stuck in the so-called “good old day”
The future is now, the time is here,
Where everyone is new, and all can cheer.
Erase the bad times, but do leave time to renew,
Because in the end, we’re all just humans too.

There are changes to be made,
No reason to be afraid.
Love thy neighbor and it will be okay,
Not just tomorrow, until your very last day.
Something must be done,
So that justice can be won.


The author's comments:

I wrote this poem during a time when hatred and horrible incidents were happening in my town. We need to work together, not against.


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This article has 5 comments.


Anno82 SILVER said...
on Nov. 13 2023 at 1:44 am
Anno82 SILVER, Austin, Texas
9 articles 0 photos 43 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Peace doesn't come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat." -John Ortberg
"God doesn't break things so He can fix them; He fixes broken things so He can use them." -Bob Goff
"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" -Corrie Ten Boom

Super duper awesome! Thankyou for writing this! I appreciate the "love thy neighbor" quote, and I want to encourage you to continue writing such great poems. It had a fantastic flow to it, and it was really well executed!
Have a blessed day!

on Jan. 6 2023 at 11:51 am
Ava_Simz1 BRONZE, San Diego, California
3 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Knowledge is power." - Sir Francis Bacon

This is so true! I'm so glad that you were able to bring up such a huge problem in such a beautiful way!

on Jul. 26 2021 at 12:42 pm
Crazywolfiegirl2 PLATINUM, Kington, Other
26 articles 3 photos 284 comments

Favorite Quote:
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. —Rachel Carson

This is amazing! I really loved it and I think you are very talented. Well done, and thanks for sharing this 🙃

on Jun. 12 2021 at 10:20 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

youre a really good poet!

Dre_2021 said...
on Oct. 15 2020 at 8:26 am
Dre_2021, Ewing, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 16 comments
I really liked how your poem had a rhythm to it I thought it was very cool.