Toun Soun

Toun Soun was an 11^th grader at Foster High School, Tukwila, WA when she wrote this poem.  Her poem was inspired by Joy Harjo's poem of the same title.
 

A Map to the Next World

I wish to make a map for those who dream,
those who desire some kind of escape

Rearranging the stars to make a path
covering the map printed with the blood of history,

To escape to the next world,
where rivers are blue and not red,
where the sun can forget all it has seen,
and the moon can shine without the presence of darkness

Land is no longer mine, nor yours, but ours
borderlines disappear one by one,

Men grip hands to shake,
guns and swords are no longer,

The word revenge has no meaning
no history, no purpose,

Blood does not shower the earth we walk upon.