In the ring, I throw punches
like I’m trying to knock the sadness out of me.
Every swing is a conversation with my fear,
every hit is me saying,
“You don’t get to win today.”
My gloves feel heavy,
not just with padding,
but with everything I don’t say out loud.
All my quiet thoughts live in my fists.
I move my feet like I’m running from my mind,
dodging memories instead of punches,
slipping past doubts the way I slip past jabs.
The bell rings,
and for a few minutes,
the world finally shuts up.
no overthinking.
no what-ifs.
just breath, sweat, and heartbeat.
In the ring, I’m not fragile.
I’m focused.
I’m sharp.
I’m fire pretending to be calm.
but when the gloves come off,
so does the armor.
And I’m just a girl again
with bruises you can’t see.
Boxing teaches me how to fight,
but I’m still learning
how to rest.
Jan 18
Jan 18, 2026 at 12:39 AM UTC
In the ring, I throw punches
like I’m trying to knock the sadness out of me.
Every swing is a conversation with my fear,
every hit is me saying,
“You don’t get to win today.”
My gloves feel heavy,
not just with padding,
but with everything I don’t say out loud.
All my quiet thoughts live in my fists.
I move my feet like I’m running from my mind,
dodging memories instead of punches,
slipping past doubts the way I slip past jabs.
The bell rings,
and for a few minutes,
the world finally shuts up.
no overthinking.
no what-ifs.
just breath, sweat, and heartbeat.
In the ring, I’m not fragile.
I’m focused.
I’m sharp.
I’m fire pretending to be calm.
but when the gloves come off,
so does the armor.
And I’m just a girl again
with bruises you can’t see.
Boxing teaches me how to fight,
but I’m still learning
how to rest.
