By Natalie Louie Colby
I wrote this poem as a response to the Allen mall shooting. When I saw the photos of Cindy, Kyu, James, and William Cho, and Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, my heart broke. I dedicate this poem to their families.
Someday
I hope my child thinks I’m brave
for making beautiful things
as reminders of beauty.
I hope my child thinks I’m brave
for sowing seeds
where love might bloom.
I hope my child thinks I’m brave
for growing roots
in spite of the drought.
I hope my child thinks I’m brave
but she or he doesn’t need to be
brave like me to enter
the playground
the classroom
the grocery store
the church
the concert
the coffee shop
the restaurant
the park
the theater
the garden
the salon
the office
the neighborhood
the shopping mall
but can just be.
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
Natalie Louie Colby is a 2.5 generation Chinese American. She works in college campus ministry in Northern California, where she lives with her husband.
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