DOWN, RISE, STAND, ONWARD

Down on my knees.

All scraped and bleeding.

I am hunched over.

Breathing comes with labour.

My head is held down.

Arms hang at my sides.

Everything is a blur.

I have reached the point of exhaustion. 

Then I fall over onto my side.

There is just no more fight left in me.

All my strength is gone.

My will has died.

I convulse from the pain.

As I continue to bleed out.

All life is leaving me.
But I don't want to be left like this.
I don't want to go down as I have.
I'm not ready to give up.
I'm not ready to die.
Not just yet.
I roll over, I'm back on my knees.
I hunch over.
Putting knuckles to blood stained ground.
I rise.
I rise.
I stand.
I stand.

My head is held high.
I was down and out.
Now I am up and I'm ready to head back into the fray.
I look around and breathe in.
I close my eyes.
This is a good day.
I am alive.
And I want to live.
Now to walk on.
Now to push forward.
I will carry on.
Holding the course.
I am not afraid.
No one can touch me.
I will push on through.
My resolve is steel solid.
A fire burns hot and bright in my heart.
I will illuminate.
I will radiate.
I was there, now I am here.
I was down, now I am risen.
I was wounded, I was bleeding, now I bear a scar.
I am all the stronger for it.
If I go down again I will get back up again.
Again and again, over and over, if need be.
Bend me, but I cannot be broken.
I will always start from down on my knees.
I will rise.
I will rise.
I will stand.
I will stand.
Onward and upward.

SCOTT DAVID BUCKLEY