Broken Spirit

It happens unsuspectingly 
in ways you’d never guess.
It drops right in to challenge you 
and put your spirit to the test.

It comes packaged up in your friends
and in your family too.
No matter how you arm yourself
it’s there to threaten you.

When it strikes you will know it
but you still may be surprised
that the blow to break your spirit
was right there before your eyes.

You can stop and let it wound you
or ask others what to do
but if you fail to learn its lesson
it will return to tutor you.

               - Gail Lindsay