Don't Forget Your Monkey

                                                              

This was inspired by a story

in 2009 that ran on KCET

in Los Angeles.

*                      *                      *

In North Hollywood, California

Is Madison Middle School:

Something once happened there

Which was rather cool.

35 students took some time off

And flew across the nation

To be among the freezing millions

At Obama’s inauguration.

The brainstorm of Terre Fallon

Who teaches language arts

Will remain forever in all of

These kids heads and hearts.

Fallon asked for corporate help

To finance this expedition

But no corporate help showed up

To aid them on this mission.

Fallon luckily had a Plan B

Which turned out to be dandy:

The kids would raise the money

By selling bars of candy.

Car washes added more funds and

These efforts were so energetic

Other teachers made donations who

Had become quite sympathetic.

(There’s a good lesson here for the

Times we live in ---

The things we earn are better than the

Things we’re given.)

These students come from modest means

And I should’ve already stated here

They also got trip money from their folks

Many of whom immigrated here.

Cindy Rivera has El Salvador roots

And as she did her packing

She realized that her one suitcase had

Something that was lacking.

A stuffed animal, a personal favorite

To take on her first trip from home

And bringing this little creature along

Is what inspired this poem.

Cindy has Obama’s glow of Hope:

She’s perky, bright and spunky

And she told her Dad that she really

Wanted to bring her monkey.

           

*                      *                      *

A lot of people don’t dare to dream

They settle for what’ve they’ve got:

This choice they’ve made eventually

In their stomach becomes a knot.

But people like Cindy, Edwin Lua

And also Jennifer Tran

Know at their young ages to believe

Not in “I can’t” but “I can.”

As we head for the stars, we want

Something familiar to bring

With us on this uncertain journey

That makes our hearts sing.

*                      *                      *

Wish a wish, pray a prayer

Take a chance, dream a dream

Walk the walk, talk the talk

Dare to try and make the team.

Believe in belief, trust in trust

Embrace the new and funky

Be bold, don’t put your life on hold

But don’t forget your monkey.