Still Standing

Still Standing Poems of Presence, Weight, and Love That Does Not Move Some people do not get to step away. There is work to do. People to care for. Responsibilities that remain whether we are ready for them or not. Still Standing is a collection of poems about what it means to stay present in a life that rarely resolves neatly. These poems explore fatherhood, marriage, friendship, aging, faith, grief, work, memory, and the quiet acts of love that often go unnoticed. Written with honesty and restraint, the poems move through hospital rooms, courtrooms, family dinners, sleepless nights, church pews, childhood memories, and ordinary moments that reveal extraordinary truths. At the heart of the book is a simple belief: love is not measured by what it says, but by what it continues to do. From caring for a nonverbal daughter, to remembering parents and ancestors, to reflecting on sacrifice, responsibility, and hope, Still Standing offers a portrait of a life lived not through grand gestures, but through daily acts of endurance and devotion. These poems are for anyone who has carried more than others could see, remained when leaving would have been easier, and discovered that strength is often quieter than the world imagines. Still Standing is a book about presence, weight, and the kind of love that stays.