I was sure
To Kill a Mockingbird
Would surely
Win,
Surely,
But I hesitated then
When
For
“The Great American Read”
All hundred names were read.
But I trusted the wonderful words
Of Harper Lee would
Surely
Win.
When the count down
Ended and the top five
Were read
I knew, in my heart, it
Was Harper Lee
Who would win.
And she
Surely did,
And when she did,
I cried
For Scout, Jem, Atticus, Boo Radley
And the ill-fated Tom Robinson —
Integrity, justice, courage, compassion
And human strength and warmth
Would win.
I just knew.
I surely knew
What Harper Lee
Would do.
With pride
I cried.