Life doesn't pull punches

                                                                                                              

Hook to the right

Jab to the front

Uppercut

Blood sprayed ring

Panting

Gotta get up

With one fist to the ground

Wavering and straining muscles

Legs giving out

Just as you stumble up

Life knocks you back down

The weight of the world in a fist

Your family on one side

Your dream on the other

Maybe one person in your corner

But alone in the ring

Aspirations are your blood-smeared face

Your smile barely lifts under a cut lip

Your eyes puffing

No more view of the world

Just then you think you see a window

Attack life with sheer will

Catch the open spot

Go in swinging

A punch to the gut

Wind on the exodus

Breathless

Fight until you go down forever

An endless bout with life

A loved one already on the curtain call

The matches barely paying your bills

Work to live

Fight to scrape by

Life doesn't pull its punches

When you think it can't hurt worse

You think you're numb to life's pain

With a swift side punch to the jaw

Your back down flat on the ground

Arms giving out

Gotta get back up again

Knowing you'll be back down again

Rinse and repeat

In the Photo - Martin Kampmann