Independence

There she stands

On a precipice—the steepest in her mind,

Overlooking wrong and right;

What is true, what is false;

What can help, what can hurt

Behind her stand

A crowd of people—those who stare,

Who watch and who whisper;

Who hurt, who demean;

Who are a silent shadow that cowers behind her

Behind her stands

Two familiar faces—two loving people,

The two who have nurtured her;

The two who nod and embrace;

Who turn to leave and cry their unseen tears

There she stands

In front of her mind—her future,

Ready to fall, to be caught by cold hands;

To be welcomed to the other side;

To grasp the impending reality of life.