Waldorf School of Cape Cod eighth grade student and Falmouth resident, Maija O’Hara, was named a winner in the Voices of Peace 2017 Poetry Contest. Earlier this month, winners were chosen in this 22nd annual contest sponsored by Cape Cod Veterans of Peace.
Along with all the contest winners, Maija will read her winning poem at a public gathering at the South Congregational Church, 565 Main Street, Centerville, at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. Winners also receive an awards certificate and a copy of the published book of all winning poems.
Poetry is an important part of the middle school curriculum at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod. Eighth grade teacher, Ted Curtin, inspired all his students to write Peace Poems for the Cape Cod Veterans of Peace poetry contest. The peace poems were one of many poems written by his students this year which are all posted in the middle school hallway at the Waldorf School.
Dreaming of Peace
by Maija O’Hara
Forever men have looked down on him
With disdain for the color of his skin.
He believed one day he would join our troops
In the hope for a better life to begin.
The scars on his dark open face
Outshone by his sparkling eyes
Lit up for a moment by a rare smile
Before the war, the last one seen in a while.
He wears the mark of a Naval soldier
Been overseas for too many fights
Complete in a world of shrapnel and bombs
Soldiers lost in a world of white.
He’s seen men at the their absolute worst,
Planes spiraling down from flight
Witness to the ends of the best
Still, past the darkness, he believes in the light.
For the others who share his story,
Whose children grew up without a father
He shines before them in all the glory
Pleading that they accept one another.
Looking out over harbored seas,
He resents not ever going back
To right the wars and tell his children,
“Hate cannot drive out hate,
only love can do that.”
