“Witness” by Sione Sebastian Kapesi
October 26, 2025
I witness hate,
I witness glee.
But there is something I don’t see.
I witness dance,
I witness death.
Men of no value losing breath.
I witness joy,
I witness kissing.
But there is something the world is missing.
I witness love,
I witnessed the release.
But the world has not found world peace.
I find drawings,
I saw a debate.
And all the countries still live in hate.
I witness presidents declare war,
But I don’t want anymore.
This poem was written by Sione Sebastian Kapesi as a 6th grader at Aki Kurose Middle School, with WITS Writer-in-Residence Acca Warren. Performed at the Seattle Arts & Lectures Literary Arts Series event with Timothy Snyder at Benaroya Hall on October 26, 2025.