I've been cursed by my enemies and talked about by family and friends
Sometimes shunned by my lover,yet still I rise
I've walked through the American land of dreams and idle promises
Been down in t5he valley of the shadow of death without hope to ease the strain and still I rise
My talent has been taken for granted at times and my gifts ignored
I've played mind games with others while dancing to the sullen  music
Of pretense and hard times and still I rise
Sometimes my endurance withered muscles fails me
Time has left behind pieces of my precious life ripped apart by deceit
I've traveled through mine fields of human denial and suffered times
Harder than poisoned spikes
And still I rise