abigail_and_bean

I can't do it! she thought miserably, clutching the cold rock on the side of the mountain, her fingers blistered and peeled. "You can!" said a voice. Real or a figure of imagination, she did not know.

Walking and walking,

Don't bother talking,

It'll waste energy,

And I have none to waste

My knees are buckling, 

My brain is tiring,

Staring at the students who walk ahead of me.

This poem is dedicated to the garment workers of LA who are paid under the minimum wage. Go to the comments to learn more.

Oh down in LA,

You open your eyes to see a strange world. A pink sky with wispy clouds, the sun not visible. You are on a small, rubber blue podium like that of a bouncy house. On one side of the podium, a slide slopes down.

I didn't think much of it. It was so long ago when I decided to do it. Now that it's here I don't know if I can do it! My sibling runs right ahead, eager to start on this new adventure. I could almost hear him saying "Seriously?

"No," I said, keeping my ground. "But we have to!" My friend pleaded, tugging at my arm. I bit my lip. "We'll get in trouble." I said nervously. "No we won't!