Littering


                            Waves crash and roll  reaching for dry land
my heart pounding to the rhythm
of feet hitting the sand. My face stands
out in the crowd of smiles as sadness roams the luminous ocean
trying to hide beneath screams of joy.
Hundreds of seagulls rip up the beach, their

ravenous minds searching for food.

Kids bury their used wrappers and cans

in the beautiful sand in which provides

for animals as their parents watch

carelessly because they too throw trash

to the ground like earth is their garbage

can. Suddenly the ocean turns into

a place of regret, animals still holding onto

the hope that someday their

home that was once beautiful and strong becomes

more beautiful and stronger than ever

Somehow I know that we won’t change no

matter how big the consequences are,

so I sit and watch hundreds of people

from miles away knowing that

change is thousands of miles away too.

-Malana Linendoll