Life and Death Struggle

I dealt with abuse as a child. When I married, I jumped from the perverbial frying pay to the fire and abuse continued. The healing process was a lengthy one, but it was a time of changing from a victim to a victor. This poem was a part of that healing. We all have choices to make. I realized that I could wallow in self-pity and waste my life, or I could choose to climb out of the pit and let my life stand for something better. I chose the later. Abuse is not a choice; we are not responsible for the things we cannot control, but we are responsible for how we resond to it. This poem was inspiration that fueled my desire when I wrote it. Now, it's my testimony. Change is hard, but it's worth it when a butterfly breaks free of a cocoon and finally flies free. I hope it provides inspiration for those who may need it. Janet

The Life and Death Struggle
©2004, Janet K. Poludniak

The eagle often builds its nest
upon high, rocky ledges
where it lives far above
the fields, brooks and hedges.

Its wings are full of power.
Its golden eyes are keen;
from mighty mountain heights
there's much that can be seen.

An eagle fights to protect its young
from dangers that would prey
‘til youngsters are well taught
and ready to fly away.

Feeding, caring for their own,
they show them how to fly,
to soar when they are strong enough
on currents in the sky.

The fledglings learn to fish,
to hunt the plains for prey,
to fight for their survival
on their most fateful day.

This life and death struggle
which is sure to come,
draws them to the highest rock,
to land and face the sun.

It's live or die once it lands
upon that mountain, bleak,
with just the rocks and instinct,
their own salvation to seek.

Its beak no longer moves,
its hinge has calcified,
and naught but choosing pain
can now turn death aside.

Their feathers are now molting.
They cannot fly or eat
or preen those aged feathers
that once had made them fleet.

Their instincts tell them now
that they must fight to live,
so they choose their pain
and give all they can give.

They beat their beak upon the rock
until it's bloody and sore,
to free themselves from the chains,
that calcified bondage they wore.

Then the eagle can preen
their aged feathers again
‘til they can spring from the cliff
and soar up high on the wind.

If they fail this life and death struggle,
then they are destined to die.
The eagle's sole hope of survival
is to choose their pain and try.

They must pay this price
their life and freedom to gain;
They must fight the good fight
to soar in the sky once again.

So, we, like majestic eagles,
must work through each hard trial
with our face toward the Son;
it's a battle that's well worthwhile.

God gives us grace for this battle,
He equips us and helps us to win,
but there is a price we must pay
to break from our bondage of sin.

It is a life and death struggle,
and we must face this test,
but He said His grace is sufficient,
and in this truth we can rest.

We, too, must choose our pain,
take courage and fight to the end.
This is the good fight of faith,
and the victory is only in Him.

Story ID:	3786
Written by:	JANET KESSLER POLUDNIAK (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Organization:	JUST ME
Story type:	Poem
Location:	Cayuga NY USA
Year:	2004
Person:	This poem inspired me to choose wholeness after a lifetime of abuse. It's a story, in poetry form, of victory.