Spirit

Down on the pavement

bleeding, bruised, and now swelling

I stared at my foe.

Throughout my body,

the violent spikes of pain

distort his visage

Every movement,

or involuntary twitch,

burning agony

Over beaten bone,

and surrendering sinew,

pain sings out in fire

It must be over

the agony burns my thoughts

my mind fills with ash

And if I could stand

I possess no strategy

defeat is my tomb

My limbs atrophy

yet something still stirs inside

whispering madness

Ringing fills my ears

and the whispers have no words

but they have passion

All goals disappear

rationale evaporates

just sheer will remains

Before I can think

I am on my feet again

the pain is too much

the world stops briefly

then the drive ignites the pain

its flames are my fuel

He sees the process

amazed and in awe of it

the dead man rising

quickly our eyes meet

for the slightest of moments

the battle pauses

We smile with privilege

glimpsing a humanity

more than physical