In an alternate universe,
The Pacific is nuclear-free.
People forget the fallout curse
As joy uproots weeds of worry.
In an alternate universe,
All ecosystems are healthy.
Atomic harm is in reverse,
Not a single jelly baby.
In an alternate universe,
Fighter jets don’t screech across skies.
Nations endeavor to immerse
In peace instead of tangled lies.
Yet we’ll embrace that paradise
When we retake our canoes’ helm.
Through unity and sacrifice,
We’ll rebuild a promising realm.
Catherine Payne is a writer born and raised on Guam, an island in Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean. Living on Guam, she dreams under the same stars that her ancestors did. She believes that poems are like campfires that beckon people to gather around for illumination and warmth. Connect with her @cathyapayne on Instagram.