Life Just 7 Miles From Home

Courtney Cooperman, age 12, participated in a Bridges Run to Irvington through Temple B'Nai Jeshurun. On the ride home Courtney and her family discussed that there are many people who are in such need of immediate help with their daily existence even those close by. Courtney wrote the following poem about her experience. Bridges thanks Courtney, her family, Temple B'Nai Jeshurun and all our volunteers who make Bridges’ Runs possible. Bridges invites all volunteers to share their Run experiences via Facebook or on our blog http://voicesofbridges.blogspot.com/.


Seven Miles

By Courtney Cooperman

Here, in Short Hills, I have little to worry about.
Mostly I only worry about too much homework
Or something difficult we’re studying in school
Or maybe a piano song I’m having trouble with.

Here – it’s simple.
There’s just always enough food.
If we run out, we go to the supermarket.
Here, we have drawers and closets, bursting with clothes.
If we need more, we just go to the store.

Seven miles.
It doesn’t seem like very far.
It might take me a little more than an hour to jog seven miles.
It takes about fifteen minutes to drive that far.

But seven miles away is a different world.

People in tattered clothes live in the streets, or run down homes.
They have little food.
They have little hope.

Here – in Short Hills,
We cry because of sentimental little things.
Moving on.
Growing up.
Time flying.
Maturing.

There – just seven miles away,
Childhood doesn’t fade away, in ceremonies and tears.

No.
There, childhood is stripped away from you.
Yanked, grabbed out of your hands as a toddler.
Eight and nine year olds care for their two and three year old brothers and sisters.
They roam the streets – parentless.

Is this really just seven miles?
At one end, we have too much?
At the other, they have nothing?

Yes. This is just seven miles.
And we travel the seven miles.
We travel them.
And give them a little bit.
But the miles still seem far.
Let’s build a bridge and make them closer.
Spread it all just seven miles.
Build a bridge between those two worlds.