The Engine That Pushed (Prose)

Posted by

Today I took all of my discouragement

And put it into a can

I set it up on the floor

And stepped on it until it was crushed

All my life I have been told

“You cannot …”

Constantly discouraged,

Kicked to the side,

I don’t look like my mom or dad or brother

I am different so I do not belong

My parents didn’t go to college,

I didn’t get good grades,

“You won’t make it, just work a job you’ll hate”, they’d say

I believed in myself,

I took the discouragement

And put it into a can

I crushed it until it was merely dust

Unlike the little engine that could,

I don’t think I can,

I know I can.

Emely RodriguezPosted on 9:39 pm September 22, 2021
Hi Brandi, I love the loud subtleness of the word "can" in your poem. You use it in the beginning and then reintroduce it in the end, and it takes on an entirely new meaning. The can goes from being an actual object to a sense of empowerment. I loved the play on words you used between could, can, and cannot. Great job.
Jennyfer HidalgoPosted on 11:48 pm September 22, 2021
Brandi! I enjoyed reading your poem and it resonated with me. There have been times when I have felt discouraged and let others' actions define who I could possibly become. Yet this poem was a friendly reminder that they are merely a support system and that you can definitely overcome anything you want. The use of the word "Can" took the cake, at first was an object and by the end, it defined empowerment and overachievement.

You must be logged in to post a comment.