Beaten, bruised, bowed and
bludgeoned
my fragile spirit
besieged
lies

fervently faking feral
noises
while inside my
self-esteem
dies

Darkness oppresses
tortured mind
shame-shriveled
while soul
cries

Now tenuous sunshine
stealthily creeps
bringing hope to
dry my
eyes

as furtive Phoenix
from foul ashes
fresh force finding
watch me
rise

Unbowed, unbroken still
standing tall
now spirit surges, soars
Unleashed, it flexes
flies