Once

 Once

By: Sam Mercurio-Corao

Where

there

once was a forest

is now  a farm

Which isn't so bad

except we are farming

our kin

To die

Which is fine

everything must come to an end

but 

we are mass murdering

with a click

Which is fine so 

america can continue mass-producing

her signature fast food

Where 

there 

once was a field where bison roamed

 is now a buzzing city

Which is not so bad

except 

the buildings

lights 

and smog 

block the stars at night

which is fine you can see them in other places

but some people never see the stars

Which is fine 

because the jobs are in the city

jobs that keep the lights on

Where

there

once was a tree that lived to provide shade, food, and air

there is now a stump

Which is not so bad

except the wood had 4000 rings

which is fine everything has to come to an end 

except not just one tree has been reduced to a stump 

A forest is now merely a foot tall 

Where

 there

 once was an ocean that had pure water and a home for beings

 is now just another trash can

wich is fin—-- no 

it's not “fine” 

Stop

We do not have to make this prophecy true

Maybe we can reverse fate

Maybe we can reverse what has already been decided

Maybe we can unwind the damage that already has been done

Maybe 

                                      Possibly

Probably?

No, we couldn't 

    Or we could

Impossible

Possible

Posible?

Impossible?

No

            Yes

No?

Yes?

It's up to you.

YOU decide 

Because it is not fine

Where there is… 

 

Pete, An Inspiration

 Scarlett Mercurio-Corao

Fourth Grade

Alvarado Elementary School

SF Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Contest

                          Pete, An Inspiration

Brave and confident, effortlessly himself no matter what people say, the main character, Pete, in the short film Pete, continues to stay true to himself, even if it were 1975 in Florida, when and where almost no one would accept Pete changing into himself.  

Pete, a heroic symbol to the many kids going through what he did, continued to play boy’s baseball when all those angry moms yelled.  Later, he recovered and kept playing baseball and being a kid.  When Pete is about to participate in his baseball match, he crosses off his dead name and instead writes Pete. This tells me Pete is bold and not easily overshadowed.  Pete inspires me by not being ashamed of his identity.

Pete inspires me by transitioning at such a young age.  At that time most moms would have been horrified at having a transgender kid, but Pete didn’t care and told his mom anyway.  Pete is now so much happier and it’s easier for Pete to do the things he loves to do that are more generalized with boys.   Pete was inspirational by simply being himself and having the bravery to tell his mother and join the baseball team.    

I learned that you should always be yourself.  In my own life, I share a similar experience to Pete because we both transitioned from female to another gender.  I was in second grade when I realized I didn’t feel quite like a girl and I’m still finding myself now that I’m in fourth grade.  I first shared it with my parents, like Pete did, and then my friends. For most of my friends and family, they were really accepting, but my struggle is teaching people to use the correct pronouns. Pete’s struggle was that it was 1975 in Florida. For me, it is easier because I live in San Francisco and it’s 2023.  

This film inspired me. I don’t want this to be an ordinary, plain essay, with
“this reason”,  “next reason,” and “in conclusion.” I want this to leave a mark.

Art by Scarlett