Plans on Elizabeth Heyrick Drive

I’m allowed between breakfast and school,
the park’s opposite our house. No one else
around this early when the weather’s still cool.

The trees are small. Weird to think they will
live longer than the people who planted them,
like they imagined the trees would still

grow. I search-engined Elizabeth Heyrick. She
was like the tree-planters, campaigned against
slavery, so people would be free, immediately,

She asked people and sweet makers to buy
the right sugar and boycott the wrong,
so the slave owners would have less money,

but never lived to see if it worked. I hope
the valley stays green, no more new houses.
We need to touch grass, have space to cope

with annoying little brothers. I wonder if her
ghost hangs out. If she’d be OK with me
planning a future where I can grow taller.