Young Appalachian Poets Award
Second Place Winner
Cherokee Girl
Abigail Miller
The sun creeps in
Showing its beauty
I reach out to touch it
But realize it’s too far away
And I sit down with my sister
Weaving the reeds
In and out
In and out
In and out
In and out
It’s not long before my sister gives in
She tells me she is getting married
Her face says happiness but her eyes say worry
I ask her why
She looks at me
And holds my hand
She tells me she’s worried
That the roots won’t move together
I nod my head understanding
When the priest holds out his hand
The roots on both sides
If they don’t move together
The couple is not allowed
To be married
I set my basket down
And wrap my arm around her
It will be ok
I tell her
She says she knows
But as I lift up from her
I see a glistening drop
Run down her face
Abigail Miller is 12 years old and is a 7th grader Montessori Middle School of Kentucky. Her favorite subjects are science and math. She enjoys reading and writing very much, and hopes to publish a book of poems and a book of short stories when she is older. She likes playing various sports, including basketball, fencing, and tennis. When Abigail grows up she wants to be an electrical engineer.