Standing on the Shoulders of Those Who Came Before Us
At Billi’s Celebration of Life, her niece Moriah read a song poem Billi had selected herself, Standing on the Shoulders by Joyce Johnson Rouse. The piece reflected Billi’s deeply held belief that progress happens a step at a time and that meaningful change is built on the work of those who came before us.
Billi believed change does not happen all at once, but through persistence, care, and a commitment to carrying forward the efforts of others. She honored history as something living, shaped by everyday actions and shared responsibility. The poem speaks to gratitude, resilience, and the importance of becoming a foundation for those who follow.
The words remind us that progress is collective, shaped by people who imagine something better and are willing to keep going even when the work is hard. This belief guided Billi’s life. She stood a little taller, worked a little longer, and offered her shoulders freely to others, understanding that small, steady efforts create lasting impact.
This poem also reflects the legacy Billi leaves behind. Because she tried, because she cared, and because she acted, we are connected to one another and inspired to continue the work she believed in.
Below is the poem that meant so much to Billi, shared in honor of her life and the values she carried with her every day.
Standing on the Shoulders
By Joyce Johnson Rouse
I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me
I am stronger for their courage, I am wiser for their words
I am lifted by their longing for a fair and brighter future
I am grateful for their vision, for their toiling on this Earth
We are standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us
They are saints and they are humans, they are angels, they are friends
We can see beyond the struggles and the troubles and the challenge
When we know that by our efforts things will be better in the end
They lift me higher than I could ever fly
Carrying my burdens away
I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried
We wouldn’t be here celebrating today
I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me
I am honored by their passion for our liberty
I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer
And my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me
They lift me higher than I could ever fly
Carrying my burdens away
I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried
We wouldn’t be so very blessed today
