You told me I couldn’t because you couldn’t

You told me I shouldn’t because he should

Your fists told me not to try

I didn’t listen, even as they told me again

The bench was cold

The hours were long

The food was gone

Wearing the same dirty clothes

Eating the same dirty scraps

Working the same tired shifts

I walked on that stage

I cried on that stage

Because I did what you told me I couldn’t

Thank you for being there for me to prove you wrong