For mobile viewing, Williams’ poem is best read in landscape mode.
Leap Girl
Girl, it’s time to take a leap
leap high leap wide leap deep
leap like a cat
leap like a lizard
leap like a tigress
Leap like a woman on the move
leap into space like Sally and
Ride Rocket Girl Ride
leap for the stars
leap into the cosmos
leap into the unknown
leap for joy
Take a leap, Girl
leap out of the ordinary
leap into the fray
leap over puddles
leap into puddles and get wet and muddy
Take a leap of faith in yourself
leap into danger like Malala and
Defy Tribal Violence
leap past oppression
leap beyond your years
leap into infinity
Girl, leap over obstacles
leap out of slavery like Sojourner and
Shout Your Truth
leap out of your comfort zone
leap into the fresh air of freedom
Leap into the volcano of passion
and drink in all the lava
Leap for the hell of it
and know you won’t go to hell
leap into hell for a heavenly cause
Leap into the lead role
and listen to the applause
Leap for the love of Mother Goddess
Take one giant leap of reverence for Saint Eve
who gave us knowledge of ourselves
Leap for the knowledge of good and evil
Leap for the courage to take a stand
Leap for all you’re worth
Go ahead, girl—Leap!
Diane M. Williams has a Ph.D. in French Literature, and she taught college-level French for many years before joining the creative team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as an editorial manager. Her poetry has appeared in One Trick Pony Review, Bluestem Magazine, Monterey Poetry Review, Black Moon Magazine, The Avocet, and The Bluebird Word. She has authored two collections of poetry through Lunamoth Press, including Night in the Garden (2020) and a new collection entitled Smooth Appearances (2026). Diane has lived in Knoxville since 1991. She is active in area writers’ groups.
Click the images for more information about Diane M. Williams’ poetry collections:
**Featured image credit: Fey Marin, Unsplash