Keep your head down.

My grandmother

did not like

to attract

attention.

when i was

a little girl

she would

always

tell me

to keep my

head down.

She would

say,

Tina,

when you lift

your head

up you 

cause 

trouble.

Just keep your head

down.

most of

my life,

I kept

my head

down.

when i did

finally lift up

my head

I saw life.

Saw passion,

lust,

happiness,

confidence.

looking at old

photos,

I find some of

my grandmother.

Almost all

of them

with her head slightly

down.

I shifted 

through

the pictures

and found this

one photo.

It was black and white,

and it had a lot 

of people

in it.

Their car had

gotten stuck

in mud and all

these young boys,

and my grandma,

so young were 

pushing it out.

She had

her skirt,

tied up

and mud 

was on her face.

she was looking

to the sky and 

smiling.

It looked 

just like me.

I realized

bad things

happen

that hurt our soul

that make us feel

like we should

look

down

be ashamed.

I know her

stories,

just like mine.

life can

be so cruel.

I cried

as i looked 

at the picture.

she never

recovered.

Her head

was down

for most of

her life.

i however,

will have

mine up

for

as

long

as 

I 

have

air

in my

lungs.

Its for

me

but

wanda,

Its also

for you.

 Boise.