Student Publishing Program ::

Thomas Schaffner

Trinidad

Sweltering heat.

Run-down buildings.

Barely enough,

In a crowded city.

Everyone’s so friendly,

Stopping to greet a stranger.

Everyone wanting to talk.

Just stopping to listen

Can make a difference.

Gathered people.

Dejected past.

Hopeless future,

Yet hope presides.

They have so little of their own,

Yet so much more than me.

After a week, I go home,

But they can’t go away.

Kind compassion.

Friendly words.

Thankful thoughts,

Can’t be rationalized.

There’s no way I would

Be able to stand it,

Let alone be happy.

How do they do it?

No postures.

Nothing to have

Means nothing to want

And nothing to hide.

It’s amazing.

How real people are,

Without the veil

of wealth and things.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2012 EDITION]