Defeat, My Fierce Companion

Defeat, my defeat my solitude and my distance from the world you are more precious to me than a thousand victories, sweeter to my heart than all the world’s glory. In you, I find a deeper connection to myself, a truth beyond triumphs and applause. Defeat, my defeat you are my self-awareness, my defiance. Through you, I see that I am still young and quick, not weighed down by the fading laurels of past successes. In your company, I find the humility and joy of being shunned and scorned, unchained from the expectations of others.

Defeat, my defeat my radiant sword and shield in your eyes, I’ve read that to sit on a throne is to be bound, to be understood is to be limited, and to be held tightly is to reach the end of growth, like a ripe fruit that falls to be consumed. Defeat, my defeat—my bold companion—you are the one who hears my songs, my cries, and my silences. You alone speak to me of the beating of wings, the whisper of the seas, and the fiery mountains that blaze in the night. You alone climb the steep and rocky paths of my soul.

Defeat, my defeat my undying courage you and I shall laugh together in the face of every storm. Together, we will bury all that has died within us, clearing the way for new life. And we shall stand in the sun, fierce and unafraid, daring the world with a dangerous joy that only you and I understand.