Listen! by Liana Galvan
Salem 2026 Youth Poet Laureat
How many from the outside?
How many born within?
Would we all have been same if we lived somewhere else
In a place with no kind thought, no thought about being
Welcoming, inviting, inclining any ear to listen?
Just trying to find some words that remind us about
A little city that’s been through a lot
And we could talk about the history, the city now a vision of the ‘opposite’
Of what certain settlers had when they came here from Britain
But as we most likely all know– life then was a brutal story
How did we get here: a place of inclusion, equity, diversity
–A rich community full of a variety of solutions–
From a settlement’s interesting policies that would make most of us complain, then get shamed or get hanged?
It’s not too hard to believe that those some of those same settlers
Would cause outcry if they saw us all in the street
“All these foreigners– look at all these iterations!”
“A conglomeration of cultures– how hideous, insidious!”
No culture of toleration, a discrimination hard to beat:
“Who’s your neighbor, when all the power’s yours to keep?”
And yet such diversity remains broad in this city,
it’s a trait citizens can proudly state here in the States
Here you can open up your minds, in doing so be free from hate:
‘How can we learn if not from the others around us?’
Every place has its flaws, I know, but here we’re free to say that
And not just be heard, but maybe change some minds as well
And not just that of a sister’s or brother‘s or a close, dear friend
But even entire systems can take the hint and then
Let change be the proceeding word
Change to suit a transforming world
Change to aid those voices who
Need the world to listen
A silent world keeps spinning almost everywhere else
Yet here, hear the voices of diversity rise up And share their stories:
Here, hear the difficulties, victories, the things we want gone
And want in
Let the listening ear of Salem continue to hear our voices to bring success–
Here, we understand the power of words: at least to some extent
Here, we are no stranger to advocacy,
Representation, beloved friend democracy
In hearing all the words,
We have made the changes
We have cast away the dark, we walk together towards triumph
From the rancidity of ignorance: we have opened our eyes
And we realize
That this year brings us more time
To join together– in reality there’s no perfect city here on earth
But I don’t say that to let us down
Because in this former town we have a power:
Simple gifts, yet it makes all the difference
Here, you can talk all you want
Someone’s bound to listen
LIANA GALVAN is a sophomore at Salem High School. She has written extensive works of fiction inspired by the media she sees, along with original songs, poetry, and recently, plays. She hopes to use her newfound platform to uplift the community and share the art form of poetry with the future leaders of Salem. (Hallelujah!)
Tags: diversity, History, poem, Poetry, Salem, Witch Trials, youth poet
