Thief

class begins in scraggly lines
smiles grow as the beat begins
joy-filled, time for fun

music playing, quick tempo
body swaying, heartbeat loud
eyes glancing, pride full

around the room
lunge-kick!
BEST
lunge-kick!
FIRST
superiority invades
thoughts are high

then she passes me

lunge-kick!
HIGHER
lunge-kick!
FASTER

disgust, shame, jealousy,
wrestle in the brain
while the body struggles to continue
lunge-kick!
BALANCE
lunge-kick!
ENDURE

music playing, quick tempo
body swaying, heartbeat loud
eyes glancing, pride shaken

class returns to scraggly lines
smile is replaced by tight line
anger-filled, time to work, time to prove

music playing, quick tempo
body swaying, heartbeat loud,
eyes glancing, pride enraged

thoughts battle back and forth
She's better
I'm better
Just look at her
Don't look at me

music playing, quick tempo
body swaying, heartbeat loud
eyes glancing, pride fallen

the song is upbeat
the brain's mantra matches rhythm
not enough not enough not enough not enough

music playing, quick tempo
body swaying, heartbeat loud,
eyes glancing, pride dejected

conscious effort: eyes forward, mind concentrated
ENOUGH
daring to silence the destruction
ENOUGH
and reverse the damage
ENOUGH

new song, new thoughts
breathing deeply for a stretch
and transition to a rest

music playing, quick tempo,
body swaying, heartbeat loud,
eyes glancing, pride silenced,
joy returned.