Westfield High School Student Writes Pandemic Poem

WESTFIELD, NJ — Rising Westfield High School junior Shirzad Mustafa wrote this poem regarding the ongoing pandemic and quarantine. The poem is below.

Westfield High School scheduled its in-person graduation ceremonies on Wednesday. (Link is here.) Westfield schools are scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Beyond these Walls

By Shirzad Mustafa

Stuck in a surreal painting
Beyond these walls, clocks melting
Sluggish time, present and future lost Humility, life lessons at steep cost.

Desperate for restful sleep
Beyond these walls, disconnect so deep
Guilty privilege, food, shelter and more
Paralyzing fear, parents at work or at the store.

Expect to discover a muse
Beyond these walls, dashed hopes and deadly news
There’s no end to this storm
Still, rush to do, to create, to perform.

Pause, embrace the authentic
Beyond these walls, not all catastrophic
Let me be, won’t be fragile for long Will step up, will be strong.

Are you a student who wants to submit writing or art? You can post in any town using these directions, or email below.

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