Stand

STAND (17 pieces in honor of the "March For Your Life" youth) 1. STAND And know how proud you have made us, Our Youth, our Future, our Hope. 2. STAND And look the old lions in the eye, unflinching; Remind them that the sun is setting on their time, And rising on yours. 3. STAND And speak truth to the lies, hypocrisy and complacency That betrayed you 4. STAND Because you have the right to a better world, And you will have it Because you will build it With or without them. 5. STAND Because this is Democracy, And this is what people do When the cause is just And the need is great. 6. STAND Because you are in the right, And you WILL be heard. 7. STAND Because you know that Hope Is the one way out of the nightmare. 8. STAND Because Enough is Enough, And that can't be said Enough! 9. STAND And bear witness, Eyes streaming, heads high... 10. STAND For the 17, For your siblings, your friends, your peers, your comrades - 11. STAND For them, because for them There is no Prom, no college No marriage, no children or grandchildren To share in the coming New Day. 12, STAND And bear witness to all That their kids are All Right - And they will be the Change That ends the Cycle... 13. STAND And step not one inch back, For the 17 Who now face nothing But the Great Dark Question We all must face, But none should have to SO soon. 14. STAND Because that's what you do When the time has come to make things right. 15, STAND Because you are the Change, And the future follows you. And Finally - 16. STAND So that one day, When it's all over, You won't have to 17. STAND Again; Like tombstones bearing silent witness For those who should be here.