Stand Tall

By: Noor Alam

Walking to work is a hardship.

Men bark at women as if they are cats.

Heads high, backs straight, continue.

I too deserve the right to be noticed as a human.

I too deserve to walk to work without tears flooding my eyes.

I too. You too. Us.

We strive for better.

We deserve better.

Stand tall with heads high backs straight.

Continue. Onward.

We deserve to wake up with the thought that today is going to be a good day.

Yet no matter what battles we are fighting on the inside and outside,

We stand tall with heads high and backs straight.

Continue. Onward.