In Spite of

sterile rooms,

tiled floors,

the scent of antiseptic

in the air,

in spite of tubes

and drains

and hands that turn me

in the dark,

the mountains lie

in giant triangles

just beyond

chilled window panes;

I have seen the glory

of the sun

throwing diamonds

on fresh-fallen snow;

I have inhaled

Balsam firs

and woodsmoke

curled from chimneys;

there was never a trail

too long, too high,

still no trail

too long, too high—

so, day after day

I will rise;

I          will    rise.

Arvilla Fee lives in Dayton, Ohio and teaches English for Clark State College. She has published poetry, photography, and short stories in numerous presses, including North of Oxford, Rat’s Ass Review, Mudlark, and many others. Her poetry books, The Human Side and This is Life, are available on Amazon. Her third book, Mosaic: A Million Little Pieces was published December 2024. Arvilla’s favorite quote in the whole word is: "It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” ~ Henry David Thoreau. To learn more, visit her website: https://soulpoetry7.com/