playing dead doesn’t come naturally

by nature I’m a stubborn fighter

known for a tenacious spirit

deaf to the ending bell.

giving up isn’t in my vocabulary

when I know the relative merits of hanging on

and recognize the fallacy of falsely acknowledging defeat.

I’ve always believed that I could accomplish whatever I set out to

this habit of a lifetime has served me well till now.

but when all the sign posts tell me stop:

objective and subjective, customary and recognized

it’s time.