there will be faces along the way,
of strangers wearing smiles and caring eyes
standing in the rain
with rays of light and kindness.

they are your crossing guards;
the anointed beacons of your life
waiting on the corner
of preparation and opportunity.
they will know you did the work.
they will see beyond barriers
of race and class and gender.
they will hold your hand
and guide you through
the raging storms of bias and misogyny,
to the place you were destined to be...

before you were born.

AYO!

~ P