Every Friday the Waldorf School of Garden City High School gathers in the student room for the weekly Student Assembly. Most Student Assemblies consist of (1) an extended speech by a senior on a topic of particular interest to them, and (2) the recitation of a poem, either existing or original, by a junior. The Senior Speeches and Junior Poems are a rite of passage for Waldorf students and are a required part of the high school curriculum. This series of articles seeks to highlight their efforts.

The first student assembly was held on Friday September 16, with the whole High School in attendance. While the Senior Speeches are not set to begin until September 23, the audience was still treated to the recitation of an original poem by junior, Marie-Anne Harrigan ’18. You can read her powerful words below.

A Movement
by Marie-Anne Harrigan

Black lives matter some say
But don’t all lives matter says the others
But most days it doesn’t feel that way
Especially when we keep losing our brothers

Black lives matter some shout
But the police are just doing their job
But does this always need to end in a shootout?
Another black life robbed?

Black lives matter some scream
But what about black on black crime
In the arguments, that’s a recurring theme
But black criminals never get to do time

Black lives matter some yell
Well I don’t see race
Say that to the black guy who just fell
As a bullet fell from its case

Black lives matter some protest
Why do you keep saying this?
‘Cause these killings just get even more grotesque
‘Cause the bullets never miss

Black lives matter some cry
But racism doesn’t exist anymore
Well then why do we continue to die
Because of the prejudice you choose to ignore