She Walked Away
How we learn from the mistakes of our parents
She became everything her mother never was
by doing everything her mother never did.
When a man raised his hand to her mother
she watched her mother stay.
When a man raised his hand to her
she threatened to cut it off and the man put his hand away.
Courage is a muscle that strengthens with each use.
The daughter continued to walk away from every abuse.
Be it personal, corporate, medical, or Hollywood
she called it out and created change because she could.
She became everything her mother never was
by doing everything her mother never did.
Sure, she got shut out for using her voice,
this magnified the volume for more to hear, her choice.
She learned how to put herself in the line of fire to save another,
but also knew when to lay low to survive and take cover.
She broke off branches of the family tree,
to clear the view for more to see,
took that wood and built a fire,
used that smoke to call out liars.
She became everything her mother never was
by doing everything her mother never did.
She walked away.
©Sage Justice March 13, 2025. This concept/theory/poem is original to Sage Justice. If you use it, please give credit and link to original work. Thank you.
This poem is a companion piece to the antithesis, She Stayed.
Sage Justice is an award-winning poet, author, critically acclaimed performing artist, and intensely sincere, bold humanitarian activist.1
Thank you for reading and sharing, Sage Words. Every coffee counts.
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Photo by Margot Hartford
Powerful
“Courage is a muscle that strengthens with each use.” Yes!
What a beautiful piece!