Those Who Know

Not everyone can feel it
through the straining of bones,
the hiss of breath, the snapping
of fists against the body,
the dull thud of arms barring a kick.

Not everyone can see it,
the miles run at the crack of dawn,
the tireless repetitions of
chasing a formless shadow.
Nor do they see the parties missed,
the friends forgotten, the nights spent
training solitary in pitch dark,
for the road to the top is
ever lonely.

And not everyone may know it,
neither will most understand
that in this world of blood and bruises,
of flickering fists and of dreams built
and dreams shattered, we
find reason to live.

by Ian Akamine
9th grade, ‘Iolani School