i could have died

i could have drowned in the ocean

but instead i opened my eyes and swam
my scales shimmering, never to set foot on land again

i could have burned in the forest fire

but i rose from the ashes with wings and flew
with the migrating birds to clear air

i could have gone insane in the dark

but i drew my sword and hacked
away at the monsters plaguing my eyes

i could have been crushed by rocks

but i grew and i grew
until i was a mountain
and the rocks turned into sand
tumbling off my back

i could have died
a thousand times

but every time
i shaped and molded myself like putty
So that i could see another day.