Rise Up

This is for the ones who struggle,

but they still rise up.

This is for the ones who don’t have pretty new school clothes to wear,

but they wear the biggest smiles.

This is for the ones who come with nothing to eat,

but they show up eager to learn.

This is for the ones who never got put to bed,

but still they come and try their best.

This is for the little babies who get put on a bus without a hug or a kind word to send them off,

And still they come, and so happy to see us.

This is for the ones who may never learn the way they are “supposed to”,

and still they work and work and work, because they want to make us proud.

This is for all of those who struggle,

but somehow they find the strength and courage to rise up anyway.

This is from the teachers who cannot even begin to understand

or know where and what you are coming from,

But even so we know you and we watch you and we stand in awe of you

and we thank you for rising up. 

Each and every day you make us proud. 

You make us who we are.  

All you little ones who get off of that bus and you rise up anyway.