That was the question posed by 5th grader Forest Campos in the title of the poem he submitted for the 2010 Green Up Vermont Poetry Contest. Congratulations to Forest for winning the 5th to 8th Grade group. I wanted to share Forest’s poem, as I was personally impressed. It is quite obvious that Forest is wise beyond his years. It is so refreshing to see that our future leaders understand that simple actions (both good and bad) can add up to make a big impact. I hope you enjoy and take Forest’s words to heart.
What Can You Do
By Forest Campos
As you go down the road, you’re captivated;
The lovely trees
Swaying gently in the breeze.
How gorgeous springtime can be.
Suddenly reality shifts.
You spot a can on the side of the road,
A McDonalds bag stuck in a tree,
Beer bottles under the bridge.
They seem out of place.
Although they are small,
The impact is huge.
It makes you vexed.
Vermont, so beautiful and full of nature,
How sad it is to see it all ruined.
So next time you take a stroll, don’t pollute,
And pick up
At least
One can,
Because you can make a difference.