She gets up early to get herself ready for work
Her children rest in their bed knowing that mommy is always on watch
The time comes and up the children come
To get them ready and able to perform their best
To get an education
To achieve dreams never imagine by herself
Sock shoes pants and shirts
She gets them ready with no help
All by herself she achieves
Last night she got a phone call
Their so called father promising things that fill their wants but not their needs
New shoes?
New Clothes?
New Games?
Their feet will be covered
Their body will be covered
They will be entertained
But their stomachs will not be filled
Promises today
Failed promises tomorrow
They never arrive
The children don’t know
She never tells them
Too many broken promises to break their hearts again
Tired of picking up the pieces by herself
Tired of wiping tears away wanting to know where is daddy and why doesn’t daddy love me
But she rises
She rises above the tears, the questions, the broken pieces
Another day
Another hour.
She rises
Being a single parent is daring, it is an accomplishment that must be met
And she rises to meet the challenge
Every day she conquers
Through the snow of the north and the hot winds of the south
She conquers
Though the lights are off, the cable has never been turned on, and the landlord is knocking on the door daily
She conquers
Though she is the sole provider with no support or help on the way
Though she talks with teachers
Volunteers for activities
Runs miles taking her kids to and fro
She conquers
She can’t be held down
No is not an answer to her
She gets down but she gets right back up again
Discourage never means defeat
She will rise
She will conquer
She will rise
by Jason Rowland
