POETRY – 3TC

(An Invocation)

Rain strips.
Rain peels.
Rain cleans.
Rain frees.

Not fragile.
Forged in flame.
Forged in sorrow.
Forged in silence.

Skin slick.
Skin shielded.
Hair heavy.
Hair crowned.

Eyes closed — I see.
Ears shut — I hear.
Mouth silent — I speak.
Heart loud — I stand.

I stand.
I stand.
I stand.

The past fades.
The past runs.
The past dies.
I bury the past.

I am clear.
Clear as stone.
Clear as flame.
Clear as the first breath after ruin.

All of my trouble.
All of my trouble.
Good Lord —
trouble was my only friend.
And even trouble kneels.

Still, I stand.
Still, I stand.
Still, I rise.

Cedar clings.
Cedar roots.
Cedar binds.
Cedar breathes.

Roses bloom — blood-red.
Roses bloom — battle-bright.
Roses bloom — never broken.

I wear my crown.
I wear my scars.
I wear my name.
I wear the storm.

Clean.
Clear.
Cedar.
Unbreakable.

I do not fear.
I do not kneel.
I do not break.
I do not fall.

I am the storm.
I am the storm.
I — AM — THE — STORM.

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