"Fall seven times and stand up eight," the old proverb sings,
A lantern lit for weary hearts with weather-broken wings.
Each stumble shapes a steadier stride, each tear a clearer view;
The strongest trees are those that learn to dance with storms anew.
I cannot choose the winds that blow nor every hill I climb,
But hope can turn the roughest road into a path through time.
When doubt declares the night too deep, I answer with one spark,
For faith remembers dawn before it brightens all the dark.
So I will rise with grateful hands, though yesterday was long;
The scars become a quiet proof that brokenness grows strong.
"When hope takes the first brave step,
tomorrow finds the courage to follow."
Stand up.
Speak up.
But -
When it comes to a Black person -
You -
Just shut up
It’s funny how -
When it comes to us needing help,
Selective mutism is your only way out.
We fight the big fights,
Play the role of superhero - day and night,
We are heroes without the capes,
And yet when we need support, you hide behind the drapes,
Every other race is given grace,
But when it comes to us, no matter what we do - we are called a disgrace
When a Black person needs protection,
They see our skin, and - accuse us of seeking attention,
When we practice our right of self defence,
We are accused of a criminal offence,
Seen as criminal, for standing our ground
Then we are seen as a danger to be around.
Stand up.
Speak up.
But not for a Black Person,
Stand up.
Speak up.
If you are not Black, they won't see you as criminally liable,
Stand up.
Speak up.
Not to defend us, just to label us criminals.
In the garden, roses grow,
how to pick one? I don't know.
People bloom in every space,
how to choose one special face?.
Life is waiting, wide and free,
how to pick your destiny?.
Clouds will hang within the sky,
how to make them pass us by?.
When the heart holds pain inside,
how to find a place to hide?.
When you tumble, falling down,
how to rise up from the ground?.
Pick the rose despite the thorn,
know the truth that life is born.
Choose the one in tune with you,
steady, loyal, and true blue.
Life is hard to pick, it's true,
just be proud of being you.
Help the ones you love along,
when you're weak,
and when you're strong.
Let the clouds live in the sky,
though they pass,
and time goes by.
Falling down is part of fate,
rising up is never late.
Grab whatever you can hold,
stand back up, and be quite bold.
This universe holds a legacy
Bearing your unwritten name
Stand up with passion and dignity
And courageously stake your claim
Stand up to claim your birthright
For it is greatness
Stand up to claim your heritage
For it is outstanding
Stand up to claim your entitlement
For it is exceptional
Stand up to claim your destiny
For it is commanding
This galaxy whispers your future
But your own hand seals your fate
Stand up with gusto and valor
And boldly lay hold of your estate
For years now I have tried to understand your hate…
to find the cause…the reasons…
the source from where your anger originates.
I’ve tried to understand how much pain and suffering on others
you are willing to impart and to ignore.
I’ve wondered when and how you began to hate
everything that I sand for.
I’ve often wonder how you sleep at night…
where do you find your joy…
when so many things that mean so much to so many
you are willing to destroy.
I have seen and felt the pain of your hatred…
oftentimes I grieve…
When simple logic and years or scientific study
you are unwilling to believe.
But I have come to the realization I cannot explain
this hatred that has permeated our land….
for how do I explain something I will never understand.
So I will endure your anger, your prejudices, your enmity
if that is to be my fate…
As I stand up proudly and fight for…everything you hate.
I will do my best to stay resolute, courageous, unshakable and strong
and let history decide which one of us is right
and which one of us is wrong.
I amm incensed apalled; outraged as an intended blanket Un-law approaches its final stage.' where is the backbone?
Oh Victoria fair.' Is it truly lacking? What are you allowing?
Down there.' You seem only to loose.' And give away.? Yet
You have come to the point.' As to whats the point? All must say? Your lives are next.' And the very soul of a (once
Famous state) now WAKE UP BE BOLD!! treat this as you
Did ' the voice' just stand together its a simple choice.'
Stand for your elders who in con-vid died for your chidrden
Harmed.' Search for some hestro-pride.' Support the warriors there are many still 'dig in diggers' and hold your
Hill.! Speak the truth and honour all your brave fallen.!
Show the country and the world. That you are all; going
All in!
Wildflowers in her hair
Onyx power in her stare
Mahogany message on her lips
And generations birthed by her hips
Neon sign of times she lives
Sewing love despite discourse
Teal love voice like turquoise
Another fight for her rights
Needing choice in her life
Doing right despite wrongs denied
Uniquely feminine in all her ways
Powerful and poignant all her days
I stand up
I walk to the door
no one is here
I'm on my own
I know this place
I've been here before
just a few steps
and the fear will be gone...
I stand up
I cannot cry
no one will come
to give me a ride
I have to be brave
I have to reconcile
with the loneliness
I felt in old times...
I stand up
I'm a woman today
the child is in the past
and I'm here to stay
where should I go?
I have to face
the fact that I can't
run away.
Jessica
Hard to stand up for what’s right
when POTUS gives up on the fight
Right away he abandoned Afghanistan
forsaking our own soldiers to the Taliban
For two years he’s supplied arms to Ukraine
but never sent what would recapture terrain
And now he’s all-in for a Gazan permanent cease-fire
fueling Hamas’ ‘thousands of October 7 massacres’ desire ...
Just part of POTUS ‘ironclad Israel support’ ~ the bald-faced liar
.
whistling
mine lip's made the rough
uv i
vulnerable
and the teacher fancied this
every new
mine disturb
forcing I alone
behind the shuffle
that bell caused
mine class mates laughed
whilst mine tutor
smiled
right unto
that shuffle in
that blasted bell
caused
as some African
young leaders
are standing up
with the problems
of millions of Africans.
they know well
about
the work they are doing ...
Africa's advocates
who know
the consequences
of the dangerous tasks
which they are choosing ...
Just to help their compatriots.
they can be wiping out
silently
at any moment
by the problems
makers.
Young leaders who saw
the struggles,
Struggling to convince
some folks
Who ignored
their struggles
for centuries.
But
Africa will rise
Africa will rise up
Africa will rise and
shine the whole World.
Forgotten giants
on the hill ~they stand up strong
fighting with the wind
after many years
~big windmills blades turn around
with the same music
An outright defeat in Ukraine
May spell doom for Russian reign
It means more than political gain
We refuse to let hatred sustain
Fear the indifferent, for they allow
The worst atrocities to happen right now
We cannot turn a blind eye
To the suffering of those who cry
Let us stand up for what we believe
And do our part to ensure that we achieve
A world where justice and peace prevail
And where every human life can truly avail.
Alla Antsis
March 21, 2023
Don’t just raise your glass, stand up to cheers
Until each and every one gets audibly clinked
Repeating Ike-ism’s stretching memories years
Keeps the good ones up front and spirits linked
Not so subtly cheat (just a little) in a crokinole game
Enough to get caught to see who’s watching most
Laugh when he’s busted, “Who me?” He’d exclaim
Get the cookie anyway and make a little toast
But don’t just raise your glass, stand up to cheers
Around the table meeting each glass individually
Sing old songs loud enough so everyone hears
Then head to the garage to smoke an O.P.
Overpaying the grandkids to repaint the fence
Who wasted the paint on each other running amok
A sense of good humour even at an expense
So off for more, piled into the big orange truck
Fixing cars for the cost of parts and a chat
For family and friends over sprockets and gears
Here’s to the happy man with Ike on his hat
So don’t just raise your glass, stand up to cheers!
the real monsters,
are not living in your mind,
but out there,
in the real world,
killing the civilians,
innocent children's and elders,
terrible minds,
with terrible weapons,
threatening world peace.
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.