Still, You Rise is a strength poem, inspired by a video of African kids working in a flooded classroom circulating social media.
Still, You Rise – Strength Poem
If I could I would
drain the water from your front room
and fix the holes in your ceiling
I'd dry your feet and slide them into warm socks
but my arms are short, and I cannot stop the pouring,
so I bathe and gaze
as knee-high waters
don't impress.
And you draw me a fire,
on limp paper, the brush glued to your
damp hands trailing up and away
from the brown water's surface swallowing
and you don't wilt,
and still, you rise