The mighty hand that falls,
Crushing hope and any fight.
Phantom terror seeps into the bones
—paralyzing—distorting—numbing—

A warm day: bright sun, cloudless sky,
Children’s laughter as they run,
Chasing monsters and demons,
A day lost long ago.

From within a storm brews,
Spinning fury and anguish,
That nothing from without
Can possibly contain.

Fear lodged in the throat,
Smothering a voice.
A body breaks and heals,
This rebel rises again.