I see the foam, hear the melting ice,
and know that I’m part of something important.
At least pretty. Peaceful or promising.
I begin to wonder what to do. Am I a helper, a giver?
What meaning does this place have, and myself in it?

Growing up means thinking about things
You’ve never thought about.
Seeing water and wondering how it got there,
Why it’s going away, and who are we
to be here in its presence? Is it regal, is it sad?

An ecosystem, many animal tracks, we walked a long time
and where we stood used to be 20 feet of water…
If this lake disappears so will the animals.
Islands aren’t islands anymore
coyotes are invading, people are invading.

Needing, begging, pleading for help,
Slowly shivering and drying her tears,
Yet, no one seems to hear her.

A little lake not being able to reach its full potential.
Not because it can’t but because it needs help, much like us.

You rain down on us, a melancholic rhythm
We hear the wails of your rain
We will save you, oh Great Lake.

There’s mountains with snow,
I hear a raindrop coming from the roof.
I walked to the lake and touched the cold water.
It felt like a relief.

Magnificent white snow mixed with dull brown sand
together making such a weird sensation
a pretty and slushy mixture to walk on…
The sight of the horizon. The walk to the shoreline
taking longer than expected.

Walking along the shore, I saw numerous things.
Dead birds, flies, and Brine Shrimp crystalized
Draining, dying, drying -- the lake has gone
What are we doing that is wrong?

Snow, and the cold air whirling around me,
I saw a rabbit on my way to the lake,
The sun came out for a while.

How many lives does it take to notice?

It feels so peaceful when you’re down by the lake
because you’re one with nature.

I see the patterns left by the winds,
snow and rain
footprints from the other than
human who find refuge
here,
who have found refuge here
from generation to generation…
Save her
Save our Great Salt Lake
Our Refuge
Our Home
She is not OTHER she is
part of US.

If I could describe this place without knowing what it was called,
I would call it a hopeful place, a place that is a resource of life,
a place that can still be saved.

Collectively written by members of the Lancer Action Team from Granger High School who came to witness the lake on February 3rd, 2022 with their teacher, Jesse Alex. Voices include Hannah, Haidee, Maria, Diana, Kimberly, Glory, John, Michelle, Norally, Karen, Joanna, Garet, Tyler, and Jesse Alex.