25 Hour Watch

Long have I retreated before
The tempest’s mighty wrath
No matter how I twist and turn,
I stay centered in its path
Maybe my time at last has come;
I soon may hear the call
For my way is barred
By an endless, sky-high wall…
Flight’s End before me
Surely sounds of Death follow behind
Now I have no choice but to choose
So I here make up my mind
It helps me not to cower in a helpless
fearful form
I step back from the cold, unfeeling wall,
and face the storm
Once, twice, thrice
Against the rock my body’s thrown
Through each successive blast,
Both my pain and faith have grown
I realize, if stay I here, my ending will be sure
Now through the storm I push-
Each fiber plays its part as I endure
Thunder, lightning, snow and hail,
Freezing rain each show their hand
Still I’m pushing through the pain;
Still I stumble, fall, and stand
The tempest’s fury grows,
but my strength grows in equal measure
Soon every pain-filled step holds
A touch of winner’s pleasure
No sun is shown, no warming orb from heaven given me
My light comes from within;
Though all is dark, at last I see!
I left the wall for the unknown; faith’s rock alone I stayed
Waves of giddiness within- I no longer am afraid!