Halo

Her indomitable spirit glows:

a beacon, a halo, emanating

between the broken pieces

the cracks and scars; the surface mars

from every trip, every slip,

every storm that’s threatened

to bring her down and drown her.

She is a survivor, not despite the odds,

but to spite them.

Fist first, she stands, again commands:

“I’m still here, you bastards,  

   “I’m still here.”

Living testament that it’s not about the fall,

but how many times she's stood;

how many times she's spit in the devil’s eye

and said:

   Nope, not today—

            …today is MINE!

© Ginny Brannan 2018

Image: Sculpture by Paige Bradley "Expansion, Third Life"

Inspired by two people that I know and greatly admire. That which would probably break the rest of us has allowed them to expand, to grow, to become stronger versions of themselves, and we are the better for having them with us.