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| Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, is seen being detained in a photo released by Columbia Heights Public Schools officials that has prompted anger in the Twin Cities. Credit.: Columbia Heights Public Schools via The New York Times, January 22, 2026 |
This is what I would say, would try to say.
Liam, are you okay?
No, I didn’t think so.
Come sit by me.
Yes, I’m crying, I’m crying a little, sorry.
Can I hold your hand? We can just sit quietly.
You are safe here.
If only that was true.
……..
A little better now?
I’m so sorry what happened to you.
It was very bad.
Those were very bad people, and it was scary.
But you’re safe now.
If only that was true.
Your father and mother love you.
So many people love you.
I’m sorry about the bad people, but there are good people too.
We will make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
Not to you, or to any other kid.
We must make that true.
You are very brave. Thank you for being so brave.
Thank you for sitting with me.
I love you, Liam.
Are you ready to play?
Great, your mother is right here, and your friends.
Go play.
I’ll be going now. There are a lot of things I have to do.
Good people, there is so much we have to do.
Pepper Trail is a poet and naturalist based in Ashland, Oregon. His poetry has appeared in Rattle, Atlanta Review, Spillway, Kyoto Journal, Cascadia Review, and other publications, and has been nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Net awards. His collection Cascade-Siskiyou was a finalist for the 2016 Oregon Book Award in Poetry.