I will march in the awakening
of my late-rising accountability,
my chagrined sense that my cozy life
up till now, has had a price
I wouldn’t have incurred
if I had known it

I know now that none of the weakness
I’ve hid behind, all my sheltered years,
is any excuse
for not standing up
to today’s imperative

I will march silent
though my voice has not been heard till now
because my voice is not, right now,
the one that’s needed

I will offer, rather, my ears, my arms,
all my contrite attention,
and from now on, for all my sisters,
I’ll be strong.

©Wendy Mulhern
January 20, 2017