The Rise

Beginning in ashes, Amid smoke and flame, We crouch, weighed down And pinned to the ground By our hurt, broken hopes and our shame It is then, when we find Amid ashes and dust, Small good things still smoldering Deserving of shouldering By effort and work and our trust. Let us stand, let us rise Amid others’ contempt. Grow our wings in the rising Our brightness now shining Resurrected just by the attempt.

*Note: this poem is dedicated to Derrick Johnson, the specialist Olympic Weightlifting coach at Paradiso Crossfit and who signs his online posts with the hashtag #PhxRises. *