Almost

You almost had me beat

Made me think

I would never stand again

On my own two feet

 

You almost won this fight

Had me on the ropes

Cowering against the blows

Landing left and right

 

I was almost counted out

Flat out on the canvas

To continue would be madness

The referee began to count

 

But almost

Means nothing

If you cannot suppress the flame

That fuels the instinct to survive

And that fire

Was still very alive

In me

 

You almost had me beat

I let you think

I would never stand again

On my own two feet

 

You almost won this fight

But I bounced back off the ropes

Made you cower against the blows

That I was landing left and right

 

I was almost counted out

But there still time left aplenty

In this bout

And I will win

 

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Response to the Word of the Day Challenge prompts: almost and crush