One of the women who walked all 3 days of the Kansas City/Merriam leg of this year’s walk to Topeka has written a poem reflecting on her experience and gave us permission to share it.

Becky Schmidt Plate
I have been pondering my experience since the Game On for Kansas Schools walk this year. I have been working on a new poem since and finished writing it this morning. Here it goes:

Souls upon Soles

Walking across Kansas
dry straw stands in last year’s fields
like so much blonde hair standing on end
like a chill up her spine
like a catch in her throat
with the clouds welling up
holding back a bit longer
until they can take it no more.
No more.

Soles beat down
making an impression on
the souls of us all
on the souls of the Free Staters
the souls of the Free Thinkers
the Jay Walkers
and the Jayhawkers.

Soles beat down
one in front of the other
right, left, right, left
looking for untouched souls
to impress upon
to imprint upon
to leave changed
to leave it better than we found it
to make our mark on hearts and minds
to make them hear us.

Here to show them the passion in our souls
carried through sun and rain and wind
carried over pavement and dirt and gravel
by the sacrifice of our soles
to climb the steps
and make the pillars tremble
at the rumble of our voices.
And tremble they should
and tremble they shall.

Our soles are broken and blistered
but march on at the heartbeat of our drums
at the cadence of our souls
as the foot soldiers fight their own feet
and fight the good fight
gettin’ in the game
lookin’ for the loud light
lookin’ for the sunshine
kickin’ ass and takin’ names
takin’ names and speakin’ ‘em out loud
until you all stand up and take notice
until you all stand up and be counted for where you stand
because that is what Democracy looks like
and our vision is sharp
and our memories long.

Becky Plate
April 2nd, 2016