--- title: Poem reflects the power of relationship description: A poem can relay emotion and meaning in a very distinctive way, and we want to share with you the poetic words of an Unbound sponsored youth and the effect they had on her sponsor. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/25/poem-reflects-power-relationship#) # Poem reflects the power of relationship May 25, 2016 12:00:18 PM  |  by [Unbound](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/unbound) ![world view wednesdays redesign](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/world-view-wednesdays-redesign2-550x260-32.png?width=550&height=260&name=world-view-wednesdays-redesign2-550x260-32.png) A poem can relay emotion and meaning in a very distinctive way, and we want to share with you the poetic words of an Unbound sponsored youth and the effect they had on her sponsor. On a recent [Unbound awareness trip](https://www.unbound.org/trips) to Kenya, sponsor Bridget Burpee was presented with a poem written just for her. Visiting her [sponsored friend](https://www.unbound.org/?utm_source=cmom&utm_medium=blg&utm_campaign=cmom_refer_39563), Yvonne, for the second time in her eight years of sponsorship, Bridget was warmly welcomed in Nairobi by Yvonne and her mother, Lucy. This trip was different from her first visit eight years before. Yvonne had just lost her father in a car accident when Bridget came to visit shortly after beginning the sponsorship. At that time, Yvonne and her mother, Lucy, were hesitant about this new person coming into their lives. "Life was really rough for them with little hope for their future," Bridget said. "I am not sure they trusted me at first." ![Yvonne and her sponsor, Bridget. Photo copyright 2016 Unbound. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/YvonneAndBridget-550x367.jpg?width=550&height=367&name=YvonneAndBridget-550x367.jpg) Yvonne and her sponsor, Bridget. Photo copyright 2016 Unbound. All rights reserved. Today, it's a different story. Bridget and Yvonne's friendship has blossomed into a trusting and connected relationship, and Bridget has grown close to Lucy as well. But it was still a surprise when Bridget received a poem that Yvonne, now 19 years old, wrote for her. It was a powerful message of darkness to light and loneliness to friendship that brought Bridget to tears. And she wasn't the only one. While visiting nearby Unbound offices with Bridget and other members of the awareness trip, on two occasions Yvonne stood up and recited her poem — from memory — to groups of up to 20 people. With unwavering confidence, she had no hesitation about sharing how her sponsorship through Unbound had changed her life, and she did so with such powerful words that every person in the room was moved to tears. "[Yvonne] is now a confident young woman who wants to go to university next year. This was not even something her mother could ever have imagined for her," Bridget said. For Mary Geisz, Unbound's director of sponsor experience, who was on the Kenya trip with Bridget and has a copy of the poem displayed at her desk, Yvonne's words are a symbol of the relationship that could happen between every Unbound sponsor and their sponsored child or elder. Seeing the true impact in Yvonne's life thanks to Bridget's faithful commitment and support, Mary said, "Every sponsor has the potential to change a life to this extent." Bridget has used Yvonne's poem and the story behind it to inspire other sponsors to share their stories of sponsorship with anyone who will listen, saying, "Even if it results in just one more sponsorship, it is worth it." *Learn more about visiting your sponsored friend at [unbound.org/trips](https://www.unbound.org/trips).* ![An excerpt from Yvonne's handwritten copy of her poem, "Thank you, thee angels, thank you." Photo copyright 2016 Unbound. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/YvonnePoem-550x367.jpg?width=550&height=367&name=YvonnePoem-550x367.jpg) An excerpt from Yvonne's handwritten copy of her poem, "Thank you, thee angels, thank you." Photo copyright 2016 Unbound. All rights reserved. ### **Thank you, thee angels, thank you** *By Yvonne* I lived in a kingdom in the sea Darker than my race, darker than ebony And no one, not even the mightiest amongst us Could rescue me from this, they just got swallowed in And drowned even before I did So I became a loner, in this sea of demons By the kingdom in the sea, till an angel came Her body shone as if made of gold She stretched out her hand to me I took it but with doubt and she got me out of the sea Took me to a place of light Where I could see and live My heart is filled with love, my mouth can't say how grateful This was a fantasy come true I couldn't believe it then But now my eyes are open, I see change, I feel it As many more do the same to people similar to me Tears flow unwillingly, tears of joy, tears of hope For people similar to me No words can express what I feel, for heart desires can't be expressed Thank you, again I say thank you For bringing hope to the barren field For curing the broken-winged bird Now crops are growing, now the bird is flying Look unto the beauty of this place Look at the faces of these people So happy, so hopeful, so successful Look at the change, can you see what I see? Visions of hope and success flow in their minds Thank you, thee angels, for helping us out of our dark sea To a land of light and hope Words alone cannot express The joy and gratefulness in our hearts Thank you, thee angels, thank you   *Copyright 2016 Unbound* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F25%2Fpoem-reflects-power-relationship%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F25%2Fpoem-reflects-power-relationship%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F25%2Fpoem-reflects-power-relationship%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Poem%20reflects%20the%20power%20of%20relationship) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F25%2Fpoem-reflects-power-relationship%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F25%2Fpoem-reflects-power-relationship%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Unbound](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/UnboundLogo_Media_FullColor_Vertical.png) ### [Unbound](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/unbound) [Unbound](http://www.unbound.org) is an international nonprofit founded by lay Catholics grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. We build relationships of mutual respect and support that bridge cultural, religious and economic divides. We bring people together to challenge poverty in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We invite you to join us. Find us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sponsorachild), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/unboundorg/), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@UnboundOrg). [**](https://www.facebook.com/sponsorachild) ## Related Blog Articles [ Meet & Support Rosalia: Our Unbound Child of the Month Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/12/21/meet-support-rosalia-our-unbound-child-of-the-month) [ Change Lives: Sponsor Our Unbound Friend Werner Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/04/12/change-lives-sponsor-unbound-friend-werner) [ Meet & Support Hopat: Our Unbound Child of the Month Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/07/meet-support-hopat-unbound-child-month) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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