Shall Not Falter Poem by Rikki Giovani

Why do I stand here today?
Why haven't I faltered and fallen to the way side as you have wanted me to?
Why do I insist on being true to myself instedad of faltering when you shine on me your eyes?
Why do I stand strong in the face of what you throw at me, when you think I should be cowering with in the shadows and not show my face again upon your world?

You will never push me aside again like I am nothing.
You will never keep me in the shadows again.
You will never bruise me again.

I will stand strong against you and any others that try to make me falter.
I will stand strong against injustice and your arbitral hate.
I will stand strong against those who wish to do me in.

I am strong enough to survive through what you have done to me.
I am strong enough to survive through my daily struggles to show myself that I will not become you.
I am strong enough to survive through whatever you may through my way.

I will never again stay in the shadows and let you over power me.
I will never again let you walk over me as if I were a placement on your doorstep that you can throw away at your convenience.
I will never again let you strike me down just because you don't want me to do better than you and strive to do what I know I can.

You may try to make me falter.
You may try to make me fall.
You may try to make me be who you want me to be and let go of my true self.

I will always be who I am wether you like it or not.
I will always strive to be who I know I can be in my heart of hearts.
I will always move forward no matter how many times you try to make me slide backwards.

'18, June,2007'