For nothing
In 2019 and 2022, the University of California went on strike for a cost of living adjustment and for fair labor practice for graduate students, lecturers, and researchers. I try to describe the experience of picketing and striking in this poem.
Bohemia is coming your way
She doesn’t have to act to stay
The temple is calling today,
“Remain with yourself,” it says
She doesn’t have to pretend to care
when we all fade into the background
forget you put your life on hold for nothing
and breathe out.
A new world is coming your way
that you don’t know how to navigate
“things will never be the same,” they say,
“if you don’t walk your own pace”
She doesn’t have to pretend to care
when we all fade into the background
forget you put your life on hold for nothing
and breathe out.
then you can stand up
say what’s on your mind
it doesn’t matter if this bridge stands
or burns over time,
you have every right
to fight for your life
this world is unforgiving with your time
levels of authority disillusioned,
and detached from why we fight
for better pay and to have contracts
that align with workers’ rights
So, let’s stand up
Let’s say what’s on our minds
Who cares if this bridge stands,
or burns over time
There’s no progress
if we keep this institution alive
We have every right
to fight for our lives
We have every right
to live as we like
We have every right
to be paid so we can survive
She won’t have to pretend to care
as we all stand strong
forget you put your life on hold
for nothing,
because we are banding together to fight
for something,
and we can breathe out
we can breathe out.
