eyes sharp and fists curled,
squinting in the light,
you laugh and dare the dirty world
to get back up and fight.
you’ll draw an aching breath
and refuse to shift your gaze,
dancing faster still with death,
losing count of hollow days.
wrap the bandages on your hands
so tightly that they sting,
shout your narrow-eyed commands
to an empty boxing ring.
wait for answers in the silence,
shout again with sharp-wound words
smile with dark-faced defiance,
lean back and watch as it all burns.
the smoke is bitter in your chest,
it twists between electric lights
ignore the sounds of wild unrest
as tears stream from your bloodshot eyes.
midnight mind 
woah clara, this was such a captivating read. i really love your use of words …and just WOAH!! it’s such a fantastic little poem :))
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Aww, thank you SO much, Sarah. :)
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LITERALLY THE BEST POEM OF ALL FREAKING TIME.
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UM I COULD ARGUE DIFFERENTLY BUT THANKS VERY MUCH.
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If anyone thinks otherwise I’ll invite them and me to a personal match in said boxing ring.
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May I join as well? 😃 *cracks knuckles, grining like a creepy maniac*
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Nothing would delight me more. 2 against 1? 😃
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Fabulous. 😁 Or perhaps 3 against 1, since Sara wants to join us as well. :)
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Oh whoops, just saw her comment after yours. 3 against 1! BRUTAL VICTORY IS ASSURED! 😁
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AW YEAH!
😄
😁🤜👊🤛😃
(A very bad emoji 3 way fist bump 😂)
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That was… beautiful. :’)
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Lol thanks 😄
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…not sure how I started a boxing match, but you guys have fun. :D
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LETS DO THIS!!!
🤜🏻👊🏻🤛🏻
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Hee hee! 😜 totally true Madi. 🥰😊
And, by the way, would like any help in the fight? *rolls up sleeve and looks around for victim*
~Sara 💕
P.S. Thanks for your email!
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*you like
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You’re such an amazing writer that you can make rhyming poetry lovely when I usually think it sounds forced. This was beautiful. <3
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Oh, goodness… *shakes head* THANK YOU. <3
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Clara.
This gave me chills.
This is art.
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*squeak* I’m so, so glad you liked it :)
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Oh my word.
This is perfect.
This is true.
This … wow.
I think I lost my heart somewhere in the first stanza ❤
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*blinks in disbelief* Wow, thank you so much. 0_0 <3
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Gaaaaaasp. 😍
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:) <3
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Oh MY. *dies*
*comes alive for a moment* this is RIVETING.
*dies again*
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*melts* THANK YOU, KIND HUMAN.
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wow i’m so impressed with your use of rhyme! rhyming poetry is a little scarce today and although blank verse is beautiful, i really appreciate the effort and attention to the melody and rhythm of words that goes into rhyming poetry. you really nailed it! the person in this poem is a little piece of me in the back of my mind, always ready to take on whoever challenges the truth. needless to say, he’s often shoved back to his place with a bloody nose and bruised lips.
<3 <3 <3
power to the local dreamer ||-//
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Oh, thank you. <3 Agreed, blank verse is beautiful, and far less restricting!
That's… the best description ever. Your comments are always like little fragments of poetry, and I love them. :)
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Boxing is life, it literally saved me from depression and suicide, saved me from bullying, from bad life.. I opened up, you can have a read on my blog, here is the link https://fight-round.com/for-the-love-of-fighting-story-of-a-kid-with-a-dream/
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