........................

HOPE IN PATIENCE

By

Beth Fehlbaum

.. ..

            Ashley Nicole Asher, 15, is a mess. She's starting a new school in the tiny East Texas town of ..Patience.., ....Texas...., but that's not her biggest problem. It's her mother, Cheryl, who can't see that the sexual abuse perpetrated on Ashley for six years wasn't Ashley's choice. A woman who, even after her husband, Charlie, breaks Ashley's arm in an attempt to take her back to their home in the suburbs of ....Dallas...., still testifies on his behalf at his trial for injury to a child. Ashley's stuck in a cycle of self-injury and self-hatred as a result, and the people who love her are struggling to pull her out of it.

            David, Ashley's long-absent father, hadn't seen his daughter since infancy, until he showed up in the offices of Child Protective Services to bring her back to his home in the woods of East Texas, and the life he's built with his wife of ten years, Beverly, and their son, Ben. No longer a heavy drinking rage-a-holic, he's sworn he'll spend the rest of his life making up lost time with Ashley, and hopefully earning her trust and love.

            Beverly, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who has walked the rocky road to recovery that Ashley is on, is balancing her life as stepmom to Ashley with her job as a high school English teacher, and her reputation in the community as a magnet for controversy.

            Scott "Dr. Matt" Matthews, a slightly unconventional, drop-kick-the-teddy-bear and kick-the-desk therapist, is determined to pull Ashley out of the darkness she crawls into when her self-destructive tendencies overtake her better judgement, and the "squirrel on speed" that gets going in her mind is making laps and chugging Red Bull.

.. ..

            More than anything else, Ashley craves normalcy. She envies girls who can experience relationships with guys without fear of being touched, and she wishes that being a consistent back-of-the-pack finisher in cross-country was her biggest problem.

            But.. do other people have it that easy?

            Krystle "K.C." Williamson has an electric guitar named Kurt and a mother who believes that the best cure for K.C.'s homosexuality would be a trip to J.C. Penney's to pick up some cute skirts instead of the t-shirts and jeans that K.C. wears every day.

            Pam Littlejohn is driven by jealousy and insecurity to push herself hard for a cross-country medal in State, and to spread the rumor that Ashley moved to Patience because she had an affair with her stepfather Charlie.

            Marcus Merriweather is so afraid of not having all the answers, he hides behind THE Holy Bible (the only "version" that's right), and a stiflingly narrow world-view.

            T.W. Griffin quit his position as running back for his father's Patience Panthers football team, and now his dad's hell-bent on making Bev Asher pay for taking his son from him.

            Zaquoiah "Z.Z." Freeman, self-described as "bountiful, bodacious, and beautiful", is fighting the urge to knock Pam's smirk right off her face and beat Marcus to death with his holier-than-thou attitude. She's still reeling from her cousin, Jasper, being nearly beaten to death earlier in the year, and depends on dancing to help her deal with the fear that comes with being a racial minority in small Southern town.

            When Ashley's stepfather, Charlie, kills himself in a drunk-driving accident, Ashley races to Cheryl's side, knowing how much Cheryl hates being alone. But Cheryl reveals pretty quickly that she still wants Ashley to live the life of lies that Cheryl is most at-home in. "Say it, Ashley. Say it. You know it's true. Say that Charlie was a good man."

            Ashley cannot bring herself to utter the words, and Cheryl once again rejects her own child in favor of a lie.

            Will her new family be enough to keep her from sliding back into suicidal fantasies and hiding in small dark spaces? Will she ever be able to accept Dr. Matt's view of Cheryl: "What a bitch", and choose to truly LIVE instead of LONG for a relationship that never was what Ashley had convinced herself it had to be?

.. ..

            Hope in Patience is the heavily-anticipated sequel to Courage in Patience, which started Ashley's journey to recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Courage in Patience was previously published, but all rights have been reverted to the author. It is currently on submission to several publishing houses. Hope in Patience is now available for consideration as well, and has been written in a way that it may be marketed as a sequel/companion to Courage in Patience, or as a stand-alone novel. The author anticipates one more installment in the series of novels.

            Please contact the author, Beth Fehlbaum, beth@bethfehlbaum.com,  or Gina Panettieri her agent, gpanettieri@talcottnotch.net,  for more information.      

            For chapter previews of Courage in Patience and Hope in Patience, as well as marketing plans for both novels, reviews/blurbs/support on behalf of Courage in Patience, and further contact information for the author's agent, Gina Panettieri, please see the author's blog at  http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com

           

                       

           

First off, this book is a great read. It was hard to read at first because she was telling about what Ashley was going through, but it needed to be known. When the healing began with Ashley, is when everything changed. I cried, laughed, got really angry and sat on pins and needles at times when reading this book. It talks about loving people where they are at. Not hiding from the truth, but facing truth even when we are so fearful. Anyone who has been sexually abused or even if a person hasn't, should read this book. People need to know that this happens and what the victims face or have faced. This book covers every issue that kids face, not just sexual abuse. I am the type of reader that the author has to have my attention pretty much at the beginning of the book and Beth Fehlbaum had mine from the beginning all the way to the end. I couldn't wait to finish it and find out what happened. Beth is a very talented writer! Thank you for writing this book!

.. .."I see some interesting (sucky word I know) parallels between the struggles of Ashley and Shawn-obviously their situations are different but that common denominator is the struggle of the human spirit to overcome what, for many people are experiences that they can never overcome, and of course the fact that both of us are writing from places of being deeply hurt and wounded by life, yet making those hurts and wounds into material that can make the world a bit better place. It's great to have company in such a struggle."

.. ..-- In reference to the similarities between Shawn, protagonist of Terry's Printz-award-winning novel, Stuck in Neutral, to Ashley, the protagonist of Courage in Patience. ....

.. .."Courage in Patience is a gutsy, well-crafted story. The best literature, for me, always come from the pain we survive and grow from."

"Courage in Patience is a powerfully written and unforgettable story of survival and growth--the best of the human spirit."

"My admiration for Beth Fehlbaum is enormous--she has taken a painful chapter from her own life and turned it into a work of art that will help many people--congrats Beth!"

Visit Terry Trueman's website to learn more about this amazing author and see his looooong list of awards. http://www.terrytrueman.com

............................

.. ..

Survivors In Action, Inc.....

4354 Town Center Blvd., Suite 114-143....

......El Dorado Hills.., ....CA.... ..95762..........

(916) 941-7292....

(916) 941-7216 fax....

.. ..

.. ..

July 8, 2009....

.. ..

RE: Review & Support for Courage In Patience....

.. ..

.. ..

It is an honor for Survivors In Action, a national non-profit crime victims organization, to recommend Courage In Patience as one of the best all-time books regarding the subject of child abuse and overcoming victimization.....

.. ..

Author Beth Fehlbaum has an amazing ability to make her words come to life in a matter of seconds. Everyone who reads Courage is trapped within its pages until the story ends.....

.. ..

Courage in Patience is a timeless book for all ages. Survivors In Action is proud to be a part of promoting the book on our web sites, blogs, newsletters and other media formats, to help inspire everyone to learn as the protagonist, young Ashley, does, how to overcome adversity, while inspiring others to speak out about the topic of sexual abuse, which is often a difficult one to speak or write about.  ....

.. ..

Sincerely,....

.. ..

Alexis A. Moore, President....

Survivors In Action....

www.SurvivorsInAction.com....

“No Victim Left Behind”....

.. ..

Thank you sooo much to everyone who has expressed their support for Courage in Patience! I really appreciate it!!
--Beth

................................................

.. ..Reviews from Publications

BOOKLIST Review....

Nine-year-old Ashley Asher was pleased when her mother started a relationship with Charlie Baker. Charlie, Ashley thought, would be the father she never had. She was 9 then; now 15, she recounts the story of how her dream life soon turned to nightmare, commencing with the first time Charlie touched her inappropriately.

For years she tolerated it—not only the sexual abuse but also the emotional manipulation her stepfather inflicted on her—until one day she confronted both Charlie and her mother.

.. ..

To Ashley’s horror, her mother sided with Charlie, leaving the teenager to find her own way, prompting her to reestablish a connection with her biological father. Though the subject matter is undeniably dark, Fehlbaum manages to keep the tone surprisingly light and hopeful. This hard-hitting but readable story about an infinitely troubling subject will resonate with all readers but especially with other survivors of abuse or with those who work with those survivors.

— Mary Frances Wilkens

.. ..

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY Review....

Fehlbaum's debut novel, set in a small ....Texas.... town, is overloaded with thorny issues and hindered by a “very special episode” tone, but features a genuine and empathetic lead. After enduring six years of sexual abuse from her step-father, 14-year-old Ashley Asher finally gathers the courage to confide in her mother; predictably, mom sides with step-dad. Soon, Ashley is sent to live with her estranged birth father, David, and his new wife and son. Though he's now a kind man who's put his life-long anger issues behind him, Ashley still struggles to trust her father. His wife, Bev, a high school English teacher, brings Ashley into her extended family of summer school students; a controversial reading assignment, Ironman by Chris Crutcher, provides the novel's other hot-button issues—racism, censorship, homophobia and religious extremism. An over-the-top scandal is followed by Bev's hokey, message-laden testimonial before the local school board. Throughout, Ashley's self-destructive tendencies, conflicted feelings and struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder read authentically; had Fehlbaum focused more on her recovery, rather than a raft of societal woes, this story would have been more powerful. (Sept.)

.. ..

Reviews from Teen Readers

From Ashley Thompson, a teen reader with the site, Books Are My Love: ....

Friday, May 22, 2009
Courage in Patience

Title: Courage in Patience
Author: Beth Fehlbaum

Grade: A
Rating: R--- extreme sexual violence at parts. Lots of swearing

Summary: Ashley Asher’s life can easily be described in one saying, “Effed up”. Her step dad gets off on treating poor Ashley like a piece of meat. It takes things getting super bad for Ashley to realize she can't fight anymore, that she shouldn’t have to. She must discover who she really is and that not every man is out there to get her. This lesson can only be learned through the pure love of her true father.

My thoughts: This was honestly the best book I have read in forever. The story portrayed honest emotions that at times made me feel that I was reading a non-fiction story. The characters were all unique, everyone could find themselves somewhere within the story. Never before have I found a novel that addresses broken families, sexual abuse, and racism so clearly. Beth dear, you have officially passed Judy Blume on my best authors list. That’s saying a lot!

Recommendation: Before you decide to read this make sure you are emotionally ready. The abuse in this novel is shown very strongly. I would wait until you are at least 14.

.. ..

Flamingnet Book Reviews, a site with book reviews by teens, awarded Courage in Patience a "Top Choice" Award. This is the review written by the 15 YO reviewer: ....

.. ..

Whoosh. That's the sound that Ashley Asher hears when her stepfather sexually abuses her. As a fifteen-year old she is no longer a child, but she never was an ordinary child to begin with. She endures emotional and physical pain while living with her biological mother, who doesn't care for her at all, and her abusive stepfather. The only way to save herself is to confront her mother and reveal the years of abuse she has received from her stepfather. When Ashley finally has the courage to tell her mother of the painful details of her horrific childhood, her mother turns her back on Ashley and continues to believe that nothing is wrong. The only people that care and are concerned for her safety are Ashley's friends and her teacher. When her teacher contacts Ashley's father (who Ashley has never seen) her life is turned upside down. She leaves her selfish mother and abusive stepfather to live with her caring biological father and stepmother in Patience. She learns that there are people out there that care about her and would do anything to protect her. It is where Ashley finally understands the meaning of...love.

.. ..

.. ..

From Angels That Care, a site devoted to helping victims/survivors of sexual abuse:          

           Courage in Patience.  Not wanting to think about sexual abuse -- let alone another child suffering through rape -- I stalled by focusing on the title.  How clever it had been for the author to set most of the action in a town called Patience.   At least read the rest of this summary, I thought.   It quickly became clear that although the book is a novel, Beth Fehlbaum did not write it from the perspective of a person standing outside looking in.  She, too, was sexually assaulted as a child.   Not only has she faced what happened, she has worked through her pain so she can help others see that they are not alone.  Instead of letting stress burn her up inside, she braved smoke and flames in order to throw open a window.  That is her holding out a flag that says in large, bold letters,  You are not a victim, you are you.  No one is more valuable.  Fear and anger must not be allowed to consume you.  There is a rainbow at the end of the long, storm-prone road to recovery, and that road leads to a smoother one.      

             Knowing all this did not keep me from stalling again.  Child abuse -- particularly sexual abuse -- is not academic to me.  The very idea makes scars that time has not healed throb. I became a writer in the hope that shedding light will eventually dry the sludge poisoning my psyche enough that some will blow away.   What doesn't can be channeled to some far-off sea, where it will immediately sink to the bottom, never to surface again.  Pouring  hurt onto paper has helped   Ink fades, after all.  You can burn paper if you have to.  But no matter what you do, a certain amount of residue is going to cling.  What you need to do is season it with love and understanding, then make a healing poultice of the mixture and spread it around.  I am so glad I quite stalling.  Because Courage in Patience does just that. 

              Beth Fehlbaum has written a story that I guarantee will stay with you.   Her characters are fully developed, not Joan of Arcs and Darth Vaders.  She was so smart not to make a goodie-goodie of the girl who is the target of the abuse.  Not only do you empathize, you end up aching for her to find a way out of the dark!   The man who abuses her acts despicably, but he is human.   Only a stone would not hurt when reading about the rapes,  but what stabbed me the deepest was the mother's betrayal.  It brought memories to the surface that I do my best to keep in the graves I worked hard and long to dig and fill.  The only time I  unearth them  is when I am writing.   When I write about them, it is in the hope of killing them.  (Know  I can't, but it would be dishonest to pretend I don't try.)  Like Beth Fehlbaum, I  harbor the hope that my ordeal will ring enough bells to ease others' pain and and make at least a few abusers seek help.      

            One reservation that I had in the beginning was that the novel was really two, and should be split.  I was wrong.   The book is not "about sexual abuse."  It is not "about racial discrimination."  It is about accepting who we are.  It is about accepting each other.  It is about faith.  It is about gut-level courage and dogged patience and the value -- no, the absolute necessity -- of a free, well-rounded, genuinely enlightened education.  It is about the worst in us and the best in us.  I love to read books that somehow manage to entertain while teaching important lessons.  That teach without teaching down!  Courage in Patience is all this and more.  Were there medals for fortitude and compassion, she would surely qualify.       

            I am convinced that one of the mega-publishers will pick up the novel.   I am hoping that the editions they print will be in standard, single-spaced format.  Double-spacing makes the book look longer than it is.  This is a very minor drawback.  I only mention it  because I would like to see Courage in Patience  reach millions.  If you haven't read it, you are missing out.     

.. ..

Author/Editor Phyllis Jean D. Green

.. ..

From http://floretacui.blogspot.com/2009/02/courage-in-patience.html

.. ..

There was something inside my mom, like there is, at this point anyway, in me, that says we don't deserve respect of our boundaries. Not that we have any in the first place. It's a sense of worthlessness and emptiness, like being a cup with a crack in it. No matter how many times the cup is filled, with, for example, the love that David and Bev show me, it leaks out, because I don't love myself yet. I'm not willing to fight for me, and it comes out in torrents of rage.....

Courage in Patience - Beth Fehlbaum


I was drawn to this book like a moth to the flame. At the library, from a distance, I saw the front cover featured on the shelf directly in front of my line of vision. I walked towards it as if I had been searching for the book all along. I had never seen it before in my life but something about it attracted me. Maybe it was the bright contrasted complimentaries of red and green. Maybe it was the way the character's back is focused instead of her face. Whatever it was, I walked straight to it and picked it up to examine the back cover.

I have a process when picking up books, and yes, I do judge a book by its cover (as a graphic designer, how can I not?). I'll skim the back cover, and if my interest is still peaked, I'll open up the front pages and skim the table of contents, if applicable. Courage in Patience is about a teenager who has suffered from sexual abuse since the age of 8. At first, I thought it was a memoir, but when I delved into the first chapter, I realized it was a fiction geared towards young adults and classroom study. This book is amazing and the first chapter hooked me in. … Maybe I was meant to read this book. Maybe there was a reason it caught my eye and I was drawn to it so. Courage in Patience is a book about survival, and I am a survivor. I am not a quitter. I won't give up on myself. I refuse to. I may have my moments, but I will always pick myself up again. It is a book not just about abuse, but also tolerance to anyone who dares to be different, or to anyone who has no choice but be different; tackling racism, fundamentalism, abuse and other issues. It endeavors to resolve the tough subject of self-acceptance with hope. Something we can all resonate with.

Letters from Readers:

.. ..

Thank you for writing the title: Courage in Patience. It is incredible. Really! My hat is way off to you for putting it together. It seems very realistic. Especially the descriptions of East Texas...LOL I grew up in a town called ....Whitehouse.., ..Texas..... We moved there when I was 12. Three thousand and not growing, Whitehouse was it's own little island behind the curtain of pine trees.

 

Recently a wise prayer-group leader in his eighties mentioned that four areas of emotion could be the roots of alot of emotional ills. Fear, guilt/shame, hate, low self-esteem....When I read your book I feel these (all four) and they bring tears and real sadness.

Beth,

 

Just a quick note to let you know that your book is fantastic! I'm confident you'll find a new home for your book soon. Gina has always spoken well of you, and I'm sure she'll work hard on your behalf.

Linda Matias
www.careerstrides.com

Author
- How to Say It Job Interviews
- 201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions
The Ultimate Guide to Handling the New Competency-Based Interview Style

.. ..

*****

--- On Tue, 7/22/08, NAME WITHHELD> wrote:

From: NAME WITHHELD
Subject: about your book
To: beth@bethfeldman.com
Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 12:55 PM

Your article was in the Monday morning ..Tyler.. paper here in ....Texas..... I read it and reread it and then went online and read the first part and cried that you  had to go through so much. I am a woman from ..Ohio.. who moved here to ....Texas.... 10 yrs ago and I was raped and abused when I was 13 yrs old and I am now almost 62 and have held this all in all these years. The only ones that knew were my grandmother who was taking care of me and unfortunatley I got pregnant and I gave the baby up for adoption since I couldnt raise a child at that age ..I knew ther were good people who could give my son a good home that I couldnt and love and everythng he would ever need and back then it was spoken of. Just told people I had a disease and had to stay home. I have never had counseling of any kind and until I moved here and became a CHristian and became married again and I became more involoved int he Lord and my minister's wife and I became such good friends and I knew then that the Lord brought her into my life so I could tell her. ALll these years I have kept this bottled up inside and that was the most terrible thing I could have done but I  didnt know what to do then. We never spoke of this at home whatsoever and I had a loving grandmother. I went on to have 2 more sons but this one son is on my mind every day of my life and I feel so guilty. The reason I am emailing you is to thank you for coming out with yourbook and hoping to be able to buy it when it comes out on Sept first..A friend of mine who is also 13 here is ....Texas.... was just raped and beated severely last week and I want a book for her too. Because to this day I still feel its my fault and I want to help her. Bless you and all you do..youhave no idea how many people you will help by writing this book and bringing it out in the open. Its awful keeping this inside as many years as I did..the most pain I have even felt. Once again thank you so very much and May God Bless You Sincerely NAME WITHHELD .. ..

Organizations that help promote Courage in Patience:

Survivors in Action (http://www.survivorsinaction.com)- I'm on the advisory board.

Alexis Moore, President

....P.O. Box 4584..
..El Dorado Hills.., ..CA.. ..95762....
Phone: 916.941.7292
Fax: 916.941.7216
http://www.AlexisAMoore.blogspot.com
"One Person Can Make a Difference"

.. ..

Lavender Power (http://www.lavenderpower.org)- Courage in Patience was featured in its online zine, Lavender Magazine   (http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/), and I'm in its Hall of Successors

Patti Rase Hopson, President

lavenderpower@hotmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/Lavenderpowercofounder

.. ..

CONGRATULATIONS GO OUT TO Heather Llewellyn, who said, "My coolest teacher is Mary Ann Manos. She was my 8th grade, theatre arts teacher. She was always involved in the lives of her students and always encouraged me and others. I always felt like I wasn't smart enough or as talented as some of the other students. She, on many occassions, told me that I was college material. She also placed me in a lead role of a play that we did that year. She was one teacher who lived education and went on to get her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the ..University.. of ..Texas.. at ....Austin.., ..Texas..... She has written 2 books in the educational field. She also designed and implemented online courses at ....Bradley.. ..University.... and as well as a children's educational TV show for a local public TV station. Those are just to name a few. She is an amazing woman whom I admire greatly. She is one teacher that I will never forget."

I'll be sending Heather a signed copy of Courage in Patience! :)
Thanks to all who entered!

What are you waiting for? Send your entry to me at beth@bethfehlbaum.com by 11:59 PM Central Time!

Here's your competition:

Heather Llewellyn said, "My coolest teacher is Mary Ann Manos. She was my 8th grade, theatre arts teacher. She was always involved in the lives of her students and always encouraged me and others. I always felt like I wasn't smart enough or as talented as some of the other students. She, on many occassions, told me that I was college material. She also placed me in a lead role of a play that we did that year. She was one teacher who lived education and went on to get her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the ..University.. of ..Texas.. at ....Austin.., ..Texas..... She has written 2 books in the educational field. She also designed and implemented online courses at ....Bradley.. ..University.... and as well as a children's educational TV show for a local public TV station. Those are just to name a few. She is an amazing woman whom I admire greatly. She is one teacher that I will never forget."

Brett Beene nominated Bill Hickey, American/Gov't History, ....DeSoto.. ..High School..... "He always challenged people to think and actually made learning about the govermental operations interesting."

J.F. nominated her 5th through 7th grade teacher, Mrs. Howe. "She was awesome because she helped me a lot with my work after she picked up the pieces that my last teacher left because he was too lazy to do it right. He was soo bad they couldn't even find my record. But she picked up the pieces and I'm glad for it. On top of all that, she was making trips to ....Iraq.... to school the kids there AND making baby quilts for kids in 3rd world countries. She retired last year."

Notredame0137 submitted, "The best teacher I ever had was my 9th grade spanish teacher from last year, Mrs. Roche. She was an amazing teacher (she taught me more spanish in one year then other teachers in like 4) and she spoke about 4 languages. She was really funny too but always very nice, a balence I find hard to come by sometimes. Also her room was also open during lunch periods for extra help or to do your homework. She would bring in snacks for us like apple slices and caramel."

It's not too late to nominate your coolest teacher ever and win a signed copy of my first novel, Courage in Patience, have your name in the Acknowledgements for the sequel to Courage in Patience that I'm currently working on, Hope in Patience, AND have your coolest teacher of all time's name used as a teacher-character in Hope in Patience! Here's the info on the contest!

Coolest Teacher of All Time Contest

Has a teacher made a huge difference in your life? Want to have the name of your favorite teacher of all time immortalized in my forthcoming novel, Hope in Patience?

I'm Beth Fehlbaum, author of the popular Courage in Patience, and I want to hear about the Coolest Teacher You Ever Had. In 50 words or less, e-mail me (beth@bethfehlbaum.com) and tell me the name of the Coolest Teacher Ever, what that teacher did that made him or her so awesome, and include a physical description of him or her, too! I will choose 2 Coolest Teachers-- one male teacher and one female-- and the names of those teachers will be used for characters in Hope in Patience, the sequel to Courage in Patience. What's in it for you, you may ask? I will publish ALL ENTRIES AS I RECEIVE THEM ON FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, TWITTER, AND MY BLOG. I WELCOME COMMENTS ON THE ENTRIES! And, the 2 people who submit the Coolest Teachers will win a signed copy of Courage in Patience, soon to be a collector's item because the first edition is going out of print, and also have their names listed on the Acknowledgements Page of Hope in Patience. THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS JUNE 30, 2009, SO SEND ME YOUR STORY TODAY!

Want to know more about Courage in Patience? Visit my blog at http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com

 

 

Yesterday, I finally received a letter that reverted to me all rights to my novel, Courage in Patience. I am now free to move forward and seek a new publisher. In celebration of this victory, I would like to share an excerpt of my favorite poem, Still I Rise, by the American treasure, Maya Angelou. Click on the title to read the poem in its entirety.

 

Still I Rise

 

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.