Under The Rope Lights

Lace tight

Mouthguard bite down, taste night

Tape on my hands like war paint

Shadow on the wall moving brave, faint

Stare at the mirror, I talk calm

"Hit first, hit smart, stay strong"

Sweat on the mat like battle scars

I’ve already been through worse than your hardest rounds

Under the rope lights, I’m alive

Every little nightmare in my eyes

You swing wild, I slip, I rise

This my house, this my fight

All heart, all grit, no flight

Bell rings, I bite down and drive

I don’t back up

I don’t back up tonight

Crowd roar dim, just one sound

My breath, one breath, slow it down

Your glove in my face, I read tells

Little twitch in your shoulder when your fear yells

Feint left, step right, feel time break

See the opening wide like a clean slate

Knuckles kiss air, then bone, then pride

You hit canvas, I’m still inside

Under the rope lights, I’m alive

Every little nightmare in my eyes

You swing wild, I slip, I rise

This my house, this my fight

All heart, all grit, no flight

Bell rings, I bite down and drive

I don’t back up

I don’t back up tonight