they say her story’s illustrated in her hands
and to the labor of a woman owes the land
‘cause only by her will the planet earns the strength
to orbit sunshine yearly and to dream at length
she is the vessel holding life and anchored strong
that from the depths of every strife she carries on
she teaches sun faith in the dusk and hope at dawn
turning the pain into notes of her joyful song
how does the saying go, she is therefore i am
because she did, we do, and she could, so we can
and though a throne she does deserve is seldom granted
there is no match for matriarchs, a force unbranded
this for the sister, mama, auntie, nana – yes, she holds it down
greet you with fist up in her armor bronze to match the golden crown
this for the one that sees us through and never lets us hit the ground
but when we fall, she shows us bruises teach our power to rebound
this for the unappreciated voice that sings behind the sound
the underestimated soldier that loves the hardest pound for pound
this for the rose that grew from concrete like a hidden diamond found
the flower pushing from its feet despite the rain to rise up proud
and so repeat, it’s as the saying goes, she is therefore i am
those in the back: because she did, we do, and she could, so we can
and though her name ain’t always raised in praise, her worth can’t be dismantled
a woman’s legacy lives on in all that’s good and named a miracle.