Writing: And What Must They Think of Our Golden Door Now?
Writing: And What Must They Think of Our Golden Door Now?
This poem by OverTheRainbow, age 12, of Vermont, was written in response to the challenge, Liberty: The Statue of Liberty, originally called "Liberty Enlightening the World," has stood as a symbol of freedom and hope since its dedication in 1886. And now? What is the message the U.S. is sending the world?
And What Must They Think of Our Golden Door Now?
the statue of liberty was brown once, an unprepared American girl blistering in the sun as if our Constitution has torn sharp green papercuts into her skin.
the statue of liberty does not speak, a silenced American girl who cannot utter even a hello to her people, her lips sealed together by a man she does not know.
the statue of liberty clutches independence in her left hand and freedom in her right, a heartbroken American girl still holding onto things she no longer believes in.
the statue of liberty used to long to turn around, a naive American girl wishing to greet the country she was named for instead of the cold Atlantic crashing against shores she doesn't remember.
the statue of liberty screams silently into the unborn constellations, a terrified American girl trying to save the whole world with only a torch and a poem and a broken chain.
the statue of liberty walks forward into the night, a tearstained American girl ready to give up all she knows for only the chance of a place where children do not know what it means to live like this.
and the statue of liberty cries because she is an incomplete American girl who is trying to find the strength to fight for a someday American girl who will not need a copper statue to be free.
The Voice
November 2025
The Tomorrow Project Awards and Honorable Mentions
This issue of The Voice marks the completion of the first phase of The Tomorrow Project – with sincere congratulations to the many writers and artists who contributed a record 430 submissions to the p...
Writing: We (Are) The People
This poem by Popcorn, 14, of Vermont, was written in response to the writing challenge, We the People: The Constitution belongs to "we the people," and collectively we can make it work for us, argues ...
Visual Art: Who I Am
A self-portrait painted by writerfromva, age 17, of Virginia, in response to the visual art challenge, Values: Kindness and empathy are powerful forces. Look around you. Where do you find kindness? In...
Writing: And What Must They Think of Our Golden Door Now?
This poem by OverTheRainbow, age 12, of Vermont, was written in response to the challenge, Liberty: The Statue of Liberty, originally called "Liberty Enlightening the World," has stood as a symbol of ...
Visual Art: Deforestation and Its Impact on Wildlife
Sopyus, 18, of Florida, painted this piece, "Deforestation and Its Impact on Wildlife," in response to the visual art challenge, Climate and Our Earth: Create art that explores the many impacts of the...
Writing: Sparkler
This poem by IceGalaxy, age 17, of Virginia, responds to the challenge, The Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed...
Writing and Visual Art: Kindness, Accidentally; and Common Ground
Swimspotter, 18, of Vermont is being doubly recognized for her poem, "Kindness, Accidentally," and for her illustration, "Common Ground." Her writing submission was in response to the challenge, Value...
A River of Tears
Every day when we stand for the pledge, I feel like a curtain has fallen over me, holding me down. I remember who is president for the next four years. And I want to cry. I want to sit down and cry a...
The Only King We Want
Restrain the roaring voices to prevent the foreseeable fights filled with rage and hatred that could permanently appall the people of this world. Lips must sculpt more smiles, for strangers to see and...
Love, Like Light, Like a Rose
Love Is like light Is like a rose Growing from the darkened depths Of a blackened bramble Climbing through the soil With shadowed claws, Defeated by Our love: Beautiful because Of its strength, Risin...
Unfinished
They gather in shadow beyond the monuments, no longer chiseled names, but men again, haunted by what they see, each bearing the weight of his vision now worn. Washington stands first, his hands once ...
What Does It Take to See?
What does it take to see the dandelions blooming in the spring, yellow manes bobbing in the wind?What does it take to see the sun slanting through the windows, to hear the tree frog's chorus in the ni...