The poem, “Still Gonna Rise” was written in February 2025 for and shared with a writing club. It could use a revision. The theme is resilience through chronic pain and illness.

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Yesterday, every inch of my body ached, 

Rising was a struggle for days. 

Unsteady on my feet, 

I knew what was at stake. 

Still, I rose on wobbly knees, 

Climbed onto my stepper– 

Multi-tasking, doing dishes, 

Cleaning, holding each 

muscle steady. 

Training each piece 

of me to believe. 

I’ll never surrender, 

Neither pain nor pressure. 

Nothing but goals reached 

shall ever appease 

the spirit of a woman 

hell-bent to succeed.