Courage

Courage
for Lizzie Velasquez
Summer 2014

Your courage is:
To step out the door,
To walk among crowds,
To smile as they see you and stare,
To stand tall as they reach for sticks and stones,
To keep standing even as they hurl false words and insults.

And then when their hands are empty
And their eyes cleared for a moment
(Seeing the beauty of your courage),
To gather all they have heaped against you,
Stack wood, strike flint, build up the fire,
And invite them to share in your warmth.