That's what they teach you
In school,
In sports,
On a hike at Girl Scout camp.
Don't stop
No matter how much
Your feet hurt,
No matter how tired,
How sick,
How sad you are,
No matter much you would rather
Stay in bed
And call in sick.
Get up, get dressed,
Go out into the world.
Let the frigid wind
Lash your back,
Chill your bones,
Freeze your breath
And, after you have walked
To the ends of the Earth
And you can walk
No farther,
I say go --
Go the extra mile.
Rosalind Resnick
Jan. 2, 2018