Surrender?

After the day I’ve been having, I read this, and the muse stopped by my cubicle.

I feel my soul crack
as I hit the wall
Slowly I crumple
to earth in a heap

Eyes open slowly
The dragon moves in
for the coup de grace
Get it over with

I hear a whisper
barely audible
I listen for it
A single word: “No.”

“You’ve fought this dragon
for twenty-five years.
You want to give up,
give in to your fears.

“You’ve done this before,”
The voice now quite clear
“Wanting to give up,
yet you are still here.”

I take a deep breath,
and take up my sword.
I parry, riposte,
the battle rejoined.

© 2018 by Benjamin Goodrich