I STAND TALL

© J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford

Standing tall despite slings and arrows

Roadblocks and setbacks

I can’t -- won’t go back

The road ahead seems narrow

And yesterday’s darkness has tried to hide from view

The light that shines bright ahead

Tunneling through, around, over, even under

I forge my way to find places

never before defined as mine

Strengthening my back beyond what adversaries expect

‘til glimmers of possibility bearing my name

begin to shine

Even I am surprised by the heights to which I rise

So many have faded and fallen into despair

Their memories vanish into thin air

Yet return time after time

Not to haunt or taunt, but remind me

To keep my mind and focus clear

My knees know not the ground beneath them

Except when prayer

becomes my posture of empowerment

My back is neither broke nor bent

My hands…, my hands continually reach for new heights

And only reach down to offer rungs of hope

For those below who would strive to climb with me

Although our songs of victory have not yet been sung

I am proud to share this climb with them

And while I know neither the depth

nor length of this valley

I can see distant rays of light beyond the mountains ahead

So whether this day or the next

I know tomorrow holds my future

For no enemy has yet conquered my spirit

And while faith continues to whisper in my ear

It is seemingly through shear will I lift myself

Hearing her song more clearly each new day

Lifted and lifting others as I climb

I stand tall

Assured in the knowledge that I

And others who follow the light

Are destined to stand tall