I submitted the following poem to the American High School Poets contest.
My first step is hard, and my foot nearly breaks,
But on I continue, ignoring the ache.
Hands reach up through the cracks, to slow my climb.
But on I continue, ignoring the crime.
My second step hurts, and the third hurts even more,
But on I continue, with the agonizing chore.
I can no longer see the bottom with my watering eyes,
So on I continue, ignoring my own cries.
As I continue on up, I feel the hate of those left behind,
They wish they had continued, they wish they had been kind.
The stairs keep breaking, but I have almost reached the top.
So on I continue, I can no longer make myself stop.
I reach the top, in spite of those who tried to stop me.
And I am glad that I continued, for now I am free.
I am so much stronger, than the people that I hate.
So I will bend until I bend no longer, but I will never break
My first step is hard, and my foot nearly breaks,
But on I continue, ignoring the ache.
Hands reach up through the cracks, to slow my climb.
But on I continue, ignoring the crime.
My second step hurts, and the third hurts even more,
But on I continue, with the agonizing chore.
I can no longer see the bottom with my watering eyes,
So on I continue, ignoring my own cries.
As I continue on up, I feel the hate of those left behind,
They wish they had continued, they wish they had been kind.
The stairs keep breaking, but I have almost reached the top.
So on I continue, I can no longer make myself stop.
I reach the top, in spite of those who tried to stop me.
And I am glad that I continued, for now I am free.
I am so much stronger, than the people that I hate.
So I will bend until I bend no longer, but I will never break