Still, I Rise Quietly...
They told me strength is loud That it arrives with certainty With speeches and sharp edges But mine came differently It came tired It came unsure It came anyway
I learned endurance in small places In classrooms where my name was misread In mirrors that asked too many questions In nights where tomorrow felt negotiable
I am not made of grand victories I am made of moments I did not quit Of mornings I showed up unprepared And stayed longer than fear expected
Some days I move forward Not because I believe But because stopping feels heavier And I have learned the weight of staying still
I carry doubt like a second heartbeat Close, constant, inconvenient Yet proof that I am alive enough To wonder if I can become more
I am still learning what courage means It is not confidence It is choosing myself Even when I feel unfinished
If growth is slow Let it be honest If hope is fragile Let it be mine
I do not need to conquer the world I only need to meet it As I am And keep going
