Down for the Count

I felt the heavy impact of a punch

Colliding with my head.

Love was displaced,

Pushed out by dread.

My mind, it was shaken.

My right eye swelled shut.

Something just happened.

But what was it? What?

How quickly I lost sight of who I was

And why I was here.

What was I doing?

Why do I now fear?

Pain and disappointment

Occupied and tormented my mind.

I mulled over how I would cope with this,

Just what could I find?

Revenge. Envy. Hate.

Look, here’s dispassion!

These tools are so great!

I can’t wait to put them into action!

Such thoughts slashed wholly
Every connection between mind and feet.

Although I was headed for destruction

It was not complete.

The foundation upon which I once stood

Was slipping away.

My body 

Began to tremble and sway.

‘Fore I could think twice

I came tumbling down.

Only to receive another hard blow to my head

As it smashed against the ground

Then rebound and rebound and hit again.

Close to my ear, I heard a voice shout, “One!”

I was pondering all that had happened

And reflecting upon what I had done.

I began to question,
“What should I do?”

When I heard the very same voice shout,
“Two!”

“Why is he counting?” I wondered.

As the voices of a crowd resonated, “Boo!”

But quickly they were outshouted

By a greater crowd of voices cheering for me.

Through all the voices,

I heard that familiar voice shouting, “Three.”

That greater crowd shouted, “You are Champion!

Get up: fight again!

You are our victor!

You’re destined to win!

You are our conqueror
And so much more!"

Before they had finished,

That voice shouted, “Four!”

Ruminating on those inspiring words,

Love returned to me.

Champion, Victor, Conqueror

Defined who I would be.

That voice shouted, Five!”

By God’s grace, I garnered strength and slowly rose to my feet.

I am a title fighter, fully trained, ready to go the distance;

Now is the time of my enemy's defeat.

We went several rounds,
Yet I sustained.

He was relentless, but within me,
God’s power never waned.

The enemy used several techniques,

But I skillfully countered each attack.

Everything that had been taken from me,

I joyously doubly took it all back.

The title is mine!

The victory won!

All was determined

 ‘Fore this had begun.