Confined with no space to speak. Build up the skin to hide what composes me. I see the path my soles are worn and filled with mud. The needle threads. An image of beasts marching in heroic certainty. I am the tiger. A gem among a world of stone. I won't be mastered by what holds me down. My quiet hands shuffling undetected. Where is my affirmation to make more out of this. To live a life worth while. I am the tiger. A gem among a world of stone. I won't be mastered by what holds me down. I am the tiger (among a world of stone) I am the tiger (among a world of stone) My hands pushed under the weight of my mistakes and doubts. Dreams and hopes pushed aside. I can't live a life for someone else. I am a gem among a world of stone. I am the beast on the tapestry I am the courage that the needle sews My life comes first. Put fear aside. Don't look back. The relief from pressure set me free. Hold my head high. I won't let this shift sway me. Hold strong. I can create the life I underestimated for so long. For me to write the lines. I now see the world that lies ahead. The world that lies ahead for me. I am the gem. I am the tiger. I am the courage. My life comes first. I am the gem. I am the tiger. I am the courage. My life comes first.