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. *