I want to quit – to give up and surrender.

But my soul fights for more

breath, more life – more.

My body lies beaten

and broken by grief;

my mind fractured by despair.

No amount of paddling

can keep me on the surface,

and drowning would be so easy.

Exhaustion and turmoil push

and pull in roiling battle

with hope so that

in spite of the weight of angst

my spirit rises up

to float in search of redemption.