Abigail Tandoh - Fourth Place Tie

“I RISE,” written poem

1619, my suffering begun,

I have forsaken the stranger and now I hung

Restless body, I shall come again strong

Not strung.

1775, I rise, Gabriel Prosser,

Now must plan it out a march

and march we shall

On Richmond’s grounds to come

rebel we shall,

Uncle Tom the snitch and now

I hung.

I shan’t wait, the same year I die

I rise, Nat Turner,

Rebel at mind, yet need to succeed

1831 the year to march and strike

A victory for life and now

I hung.

I shall rest, rest for decades until it dies

1995, Trayvon Martin I rise

Young, free, intelligent

Arizona and rainbows, the weapons

For my life.

Today I stay

Continuing the fight,

The fight for life

I RISE