Merry

’Twas the night before the New Year, and little Merry was so sad
She had seen so many things that were just plain bad
Reflecting on the past year made her heart well and ache
She could think of so many things that were simply mistakes.

Merry, as much as she, with strength and valor, faithfully tried
To keep from despairing, she eventually just cried and cried
She wanted to see the New Year with hope for love and equality
But she didn’t know if she even had that one ability.

Then Merry started thinking back to all the small beauties of the year
“Oh!” She thought, “There was a new Harry Potter book and movie here!”
“And Harriet Tubman, the ultimate role model, will appear on our money.
Measures were taken to preserve the world that we live in, and hey, it’s still sunny!”

She looked outside, at that, and Merry saw a delightful, ravishing sunset
All creamy pinks and thick, deep oranges, like the sky, too, was willing to bet
That 2017 would bring wonderful things and fair times were to come
And Merry, starting to smile, stopped feeling so terribly glum.

She was thankful for a year that taught her what she believed and did not,
A year that tried her and pushed her to her limits, gave her many thoughts
Showed her that her country and beliefs were stronger and would last longer
That truth and love will sometimes seem to lose, but should always be fought for.
And so Merry could again truthfully say that she was herself.

—By Sarah S., 14, Annapolis, Maryland