Tigerhearted

Tiger-hearted girl
Must be…
Strong and courageous
In this day and age
Nothing is for certain
I feel it…
The pressure
To make something of myself
To support myself
To keep up and be on my guard
In this ever-changing fast pace world
But I find strength in my self-reliance
Confidence in my growing independence
Yes, I have my vices
But my wisdom has only expanded
A remorseful humility
Lingers underneath the surface
Ripples across a quiet surface
Shaping me
Lifting me from the ashes
Deepens compassion
Formulates logic
The bigger picture
It keeps widening
My eyes keep on opening
I would have never learned
If I had not fallen
And picked myself up
If I had not been mislead, deceived
Left confused
Yet chased, sought, and received
Knowledge and answers
The questions never seem to end
Yet they drive me
The mysteries, the potentials, and betterments
This solitary confinement
I bear willingly and well
Because I must keep striving, going
Comfortable is just too easy
And challenge is exhilarating
Feeds my zealous appetite
Somehow with time
I believe I can overcome my vices
Enlarge my tiger-heartedness
Somehow, some way, some day
Lay down with the lamb
And make a difference
Beyond myself and this life
Knowing my existence isn’t the only one
I am not the only tiger-hearted
Striving to fill in the gaps
Not the only one
bearing solitary confinement alone
Trying to find a balance between
Connectedness yet introspection

By: Amara Van Orden

“Each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible." - Viktor Frankl

"The beauty of uncertainty." - K.T. Tunstall

“He who defines duty for himself is his own master.” - Dick Cheatham

“It is an old and ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way” - Rollo May

“I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.” -Mahatma Ghandi