Emily Winters                                                                                         

"After All"

there's this everyday struggle
as you fight against yourself,
shunning all native ideas
burning yourself with the effort
of thinking of something profound

and we never were taught to think,
after all,
that maybe the thoughts and words
of ordinary people
have the ability to tear mountains down

and we never were taught to believe
in ourselves -
we run against the storm
against the twenty lashes by the rain's
claw and tooth downward spiral
as we all dig through the mud
and struggle to hang on
facing the onslaught of opinions
that we know are better than our own

you'll never realize
the truth of your words
for your lips are worn down
like an old standing stone
but you're still standing,

after all.