My friend
You are here again
Between the ropes
Life has knocked you down so many times
So many times
You've awakened
Face down in this ring staring
Dazed at opponent's shoes
Your blood sweat and tears dripping onto floorboards
Soaking into Mother Earth
While crowds all around you roared
Some cheering
Some jeering
Referees leering and you
Down for the count
5 6 7 8
Wait
This is where you can pause that movie
Rest in silence
Breathe
In this moment
Time does not exist
Here and now
Breathe again
Take in oxygen and
Memories of why you are here
What passion brought you this far?
What will of force drove you in that
Rickety old car down that street and
Up the next
Delivering you trembling with
Excitement and bits of fear lodged here and there
To this place to this venue
What spirit called you by your name
Pulling you from despondency and complacency and
Handed you this skeleton key so
You could open every door you met closed and locked
Life has no guarantees
Except this...
If you don't get up
You'll always be down
So take another breath
Your 3rd...
Call upon your ancestors and
All the powers of love and forgiveness and acceptance
Cause nothing good ever happens without these fairy God Mothers
Plant your hands on these sticky wet floorboards and
Rise from the ground
Rise again and
Again and
Again
Until you die or arrive limping and
Happy at some finish line in the end
Triumphant but above all...
Satisfied