Keep On Walking

by Amy N. Stage, LMSW

We are all here because we have experienced hate

We are all here because we have experienced fear

We are all here because we have experienced loss

But we keep on walking

We have all felt the heat of humiliation

The chill of isolation                                  

The darkness of the unknown 

But we keep on walking  

We have cried

We have hurt

And we have hurt others

But we keep on walking

We have looked into the eyes of the lost

The parentless, the homeless,

The friendless, the hopeless

But we keep on walking

We have held the hand of the dying

The sick, the worried, the overwhelmed,

The victim, the abused, the abuser,

But we keep on walking

We have watched current events in horror

We have listened to violence in fear

We have felt victims plea in anguish

But we keep on walking

We acknowledge the effects of poverty

We encounter the inequities of the status quo

We witness complex discrimination and oppression

But we keep on walking

We accept this is our reality

But we refuse to accept the myth that it cannot change

We will fight and win equal opportunity for all

When we keep on walking

We look back to the change that’s been made

We appreciate our brothers, our sisters, our teachers that came before us

We acknowledge their work, their sacrifice,

When we keep on walking

We move forward

We look ahead

We make change

When we keep on walking

We have not given up

We have not given out

We have not given in

When we keep on walking

We learn from the past

We work through the pain

We show we’re worthy

When we keep on walking

We can challenge

We can grow

We can learn

When we keep on walking

We question

We advocate

We make change

When we keep on walking

We hold space

We lift others

We inspire hope

When we keep on walking 

We elect officials that represent our community

We trump hate

We create an equal and safe society

When we keep on walking

We never, never, never give up on our dreams

We create and strengthen relationships that last a lifetime

And we build a beautiful future and we grow and grow and grow

And motivate others to do for themselves

When we keep on walking 

Amy N. Stage, LMSW, is a recent graduate of the Master of Social Work program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. After working in child welfare for five years and completing field placements in medical and counseling settings, she is grateful for the guidance from her mentors, the support from her colleagues, and the privilege of working with clients.