More than Seven Wishes: A Community Poem

THE SEVENTH WISH is a story about wishes. I thought it would be fun to celebrate that theme at my book signings in Boston and Washington, D.C last month, so I asked people to share a wish on an index card. I promised to compile them into a community poem – and to take all of the index-card wishes home with me, to Lake Champlain, where THE SEVENTH WISH is set. 

The novel begins on the coldest day of winter, when Charlie Brennan sees ice flowers on the lake. Ice flowers are a real thing, and they really do seem magical. 

There are no ice flowers in July, but summer bonfires have a magic all its own. Last night, I brought the cards down to the beach and dropped them in the fire to send everyone’s wishes out over the lake, along with the Fourth of July fireworks. I read all of the cards again, too, and sent up some good thoughts along with the smoke. As Charlie learns in the story, there’s a fine line between wishes and prayers sometimes. 

More Than Seven Wishes: A Community Poem

I wish to see a fairy,

To write books for a long time

And live forever.

I wish to enjoy a life of excitement and joy.

I wish my dog Penny would chill the *bleep* out, though I will keep loving her regardless and I’m not holding my breath.

I wish Kate would finally get invited into a secret society (and then invite me in, too!)

I wish for a book and a nook to read and hide and never be found.

And that every family would experience the magic of reading books together.

I wish I could get the story of the missing suitcase that is in my head out and on paper.

I wish for my own books on these shelves.

I wish for stories that make their way out into the world.

I wish everyone could stay healthy.

I wish I weren’t sick.

I wish that Larry is well enough to attend Sam’s wedding,

That everyone in the world had the basic things that they need…

That every school had a garden where kids could grow and eat their lunches,

And every child in the world could own a book that inspires them.

I wish for all kids to have access to books,

For people to be less scared to face the things that scare them, especially if it’s knowledge.

I wish the world’s way of life was just a bit more simple because there is so much I don’t understand.

I wish humans had the sense when to stop so our beautiful planet could remain grand.

I wish for bottomless kindness.

I wish intolerance no longer invaded our world.

I wish I could go into someone’s body and see the world from their eyes.

So we could see how we are more the same than different,

I wish that people could stop, breathe, think, slow down, and respect one another’s differences,

That we could see behind each other’s masks to know the good, the fears, the hurt so that empathy grows in our hearts naturally.

That my two daughters will grow up in a world that is tolerant and accepting,

I wish, and I pray, and I will work for an end to gun violence.

That we had gun control so that people couldn’t create the mass sadness of a mass shooting.

I wish (and wish and with and wish) that love would win, that if I turned off the news those things would not have happened.

I wish for stronger gun control laws

That US Congress would have the guts to pass them.

I wish anger, fear, and suffering may be eased in every heart.

For flittering faeries and talking genie fish to appear in Walden Pond. Or the Charles River. Or in Provincetown. Especially Provincetown.

I wish everyone would learn not to be greedy.

I wish we could all show our kindness to each other more often.

(Also, no poison ivy, please. But if we can only do one, let’s go with the first.)

I wish the world to be easier for my kids than it is for me.

I wish love was stronger than hate and all people shared it more freely,

That more people would treasure compassion and laughter.

That people had the sense to know what’s bad and how to avoid and to know what is good and works for them,

I wish there was world peace.

I will stand up for what I believe.

I wish for each of us to feel so important the world would stop turning if just one gave up,

For tolerance to be rooted in joy and shared with every breath.

I wish…

I wish…

I wish.

~by Karina Lazorchak, Madelyn R, Peggy Hawkins, Carole Lindstrom, Marcie Atkins, Makenna Atkins, Leah, Miles, Michelle Ardillo, April, Ivan Shellenbarger, Erica S. Perl, Lezlie Evans, Seta Davidian, Nairi P. Naomi H, Jason Lewis, Lesley, Audey Day-Williams, Wendy Leiserson, Heather Lang, Amy, Mary Horrocks, Abby Reed, Sarah Grace Tuttle, Nancy Werlin, Erin Dionne, Robin G, Shannon Melideo, Julie Gray, and a pile of wonderful, anonymous poets, too.

Thank you so much for sharing your wishes. I hope they all come true.