Dear Writopia Friends and Family,
We are so grateful for our community that creates such beautiful poetry together in both the literary and social context. Thank you to all of the members of our community who contributed to this poem including young writers, parents, guardians, school teachers, Writopia instructors, staff, and more. And thank you to those who are able to give to our end-of-year campaign at the bottom of this letter.
Still Hopeful By Us
I hope that you will find my notes…
I hope for a world that accepts people that are outside the box
That you you are guided by light
and can forgive yourself
And for us to walk on the bridge of leaves beneath the clouds
For a happier future
To keep having you
I am delighted by the change in seasons, the multihued world of a Hudson
Valley fall, cool breezes, and the sharp crunch of leaves beneath my feet.
A part of the winds and grass
I love myself.
I am not everything I wanted to be two years ago but I am more than I was.
I am still finding my place in the universe.
Still hopeful
I am a person, first of all. Someone worthy of love. Someone worthy to share love
Your blanket to keep you warm
Glad to have you
The writer of my own story.
I am Invited to the forgotten table to sit with those who see
My four block walk home from the B train station—the autumn leaves pile up by the side
of the park and only distant streetlights light my way.
The taste of rain on my tongue
Chicago in the winter
Night… and slow humming quiet
I love the laughter of my family around our table, the joy of gathering
together for holidays, the gift of friendship for those who might feel sad.
And my family who helped me through all my trying times.
Chocolate chip banana bread; the people in my life
The twinkle in your eyes
I hope that I will help people be kinder.
And that the world will become more just, but I know that all that I can do is practice what
I want to see.
I hope for better tomorrows, for an end to war and bloodshed, for the love of men
and women of goodwill.
That the world will gain peace
To hear myself breathe
I will change from who I am now,
And cringe at what are now my favorite parts of myself, but honor the present.
I will use kindness as my byword to rebuke negativity.
I will breathe alongside garden’s morning mist.
I will exhale finally and see stars in the darkness
I will Hold your hand forever even when you grow old
I will never stop telling your story.
I believe that we can keep going and that we can all be a little kinder.
Nothing will stop my love for you.
I believe in the beauty of little things - small moments that color days and subtle
looks and unfunny jokes that make me laugh.
I believe in the magic of our shared cups of laughter.
I believe the owls are calling my name.
I remember my little brother’s face when he played violin for me for the first time.
The joys of youth when life seemed limitless, and I try to invoke that same delight as I
progress into older age.
My magical first snowfall, our morning walks of summer, I was in Pre-K
Doing my first math competition, Your little unsteady steps.
I remember sleeping and waking and dreaming,
What I thought we could be,
Struggling because I was fighting against the flow
I remember what pain feels like. Still doesn’t stop me from taking risks, though.
I remember the way people around me make me feel
I remember very little of what I thought would hurt me forever
in very much detail
I am thankful for more than I thought I could be as I grow older.
I am thankful for void and space and sound and silence that’s mine.
I am thankful for how beautiful my journey on this Earth has been so far.
The ability to study what and where I want to study
For the midnight moon's songs in my sleep
I am thankful for my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my friends
My best friend
My children and my health
For people who try to be kind every day, even when it’s hard, even when the world isn’t
kind to them, even when they don’t.
For You.
For everything that makes you, you.
I know sometimes I’m too hard on myself - I also know I need to change that.
I know that learning never ends, that love goes on beyond the borders of life, that
kindness is the antidote for loneliness, and that having good health is everything.
I know I’ll forever see you in the robins
I know I am special no matter who puts me down,
My left hand is made of my town's lake.
I know I exist in this world for a reason,
That mistakes happen.
I have the strength to carry on
I am valued.
Life is good, life is beautiful.
I know we will last.
You also do!
We are grateful for your creative spirit and your generosity throughout the year. We’ve already raised $10,000 toward our end of the year campaign. Please donate to help us reach our goal to be able to provide sliding scale options and scholarships to all who need them in 2026.