Warrior Girl

A match was struck that ignited the flame.
Now ashes and rubble are all that remain.

Defeated, she's left standing alone,
As her soul cries out in wordless groans.

Clouds of smoke consume her, and tears cut her dusty face.
Her grief lay heavy like the smoky haze.

Singed and covered in embers and ash,
Evidence of her battles present and past.

Broken and weak she had grown tired,
And all she could see was the fire.

She had dreamed of being a warrior, but she was afraid,
And in this moment, herself she had betrayed.

And then off in the distance, a shadow among the dancing blaze,
Walking toward her, a woman, strong and brave.

A warrior, wielding a sword and her battle cry loud.
She ran into battle and confidently howled.

She would stop at nothing to help those in need,
For her roots of strength ran deep.

She was fearless and disciplined in patient determination,
And the girl was filled with awe and admiration.

She was the woman she prayed she would be.
Then the woman, seeing the girl, held her hand out and said, "Come with me."

"Let me show you the strength you hope to find.
It's not something that's given but learned and refined."

As she looked the warrior in the eyes, she noticed a familiarity,
And for the first time, the girl saw her battles with clarity.

The warrior woman was her all along.
Each battle she faced was only making her strong.

"These battles are the answer to what you have prayed,
For warriors aren't born, they're made."