A 1993 Story Poem by Melissa Stevens

Can you imagine life without color, looking up all you could see black and white skies like you see on television
Not much air to breathe, our lungs are with toxic
The cloudy sky is like a ocean full with polluted air, smelling chemicals day and night
Everyone is dying these days
Only a few trees but they are also dying too

If there was a way, we could build things like houses, schools, stores and planting more trees
Or helping with wildlife shelter, we need to end this suffer
Losing their jobs and home, put on the streets
Starving for help, we need a miracle to happen
Walking down the street, seeing families close to together for warmth

No art was being made which mean't no life in the world like we just like zombies
Looking for food
Kids looking for education, to do something great in the world

Days are passing by but it feels like years
Slowly dying, still seeing black and white
Many stores were out of business due to lack of our money
Banks could no longer be trusted
And also having stock market crash down on us

But one sunny day, seeing a sign says Tree Army
It needed male workers to help with the flood control, planting trees, build things and help with wildlife shelters
My eyes lighten up when I saw this, I couldn't believe it
It's like my prayers were getting answered that I'm going to turn out just fine
Getting free food, a place to stay and clothes

But the thing I saw men died all the time when they were building bridges
One slip and you're dead

I was definitely right for this job, I had been climbing trees since I was a brave, little boy
I became the man of the house and taking care of my mother when my father left us
One thing that kept me alive and strong is to not have fear especially death
I thank the Lord for showing me the way and facing difficult along the way
Give kindness throughout your day, help someone out today