It’s getting cold out.
You take a sip of water and shrug it off.
A shiver runs down your spine though, the cold is only getting worse.
Walking across rain puddles, water creeps up on you. Tiny splashes hit and leak into your shoes.
Your socks, barely damp. Such an inconvenience.
The dampness sticks to your skin, attaching itself to you. Softly irritating you, the wet feeling of clothes while it’s so cold out.
It could make you sick.
But it’s okay, it’s just a cold.
Drink some hot soup and lots and lots of water. You’ll be better in no time.

For those disrespected in the past, slaughtered for knowing America before us,
It’s getting cold out for them too..
They take a sip of water while they still can, without their throats burning from the poisoned and oily water. So much oil. A shiver runs down their spines, the cold is only getting worse. The people are only getting worse. But they stay. To save their home from America- again. They try, again.
Sleeping on the frozen ground, water doesn’t bother creeping up on them. No it hits them with full force.
Badges.
Blue lights.
Red lights.
Flashing.
Water.
Hits.
Them.
What is it? God? The Universe? America? America is that you?
Mini water pipes before the bigger pipes are finalized-hoses. Of course, water hoses. Nice Police Men with nice water hoses. They’re here to give us our water.
Full force. Water,
Hits them.
Again and Again.
Wet hair..
Wet shirts.
Wet pants.
And of course,
wet socks.
But their humor is dry. To laugh the cold off. Scream it off.
SUCH an inconvenience.
The water drips from their bones. Soon to be oil dripping from their bones.
But it’s okay, it’s just frostbite. It’s just death. They’ll drink some hot soup, and some water.
LOTS of water. While they still can anyways.

They’ll be fine, right?
We celebrate diversity, we celebrate each other’s culture.
We respect it.
Now it’s time to protect it- and each other too.

–Sana Ali, Senior