I won't stay knocked down

I have been knocked down.
I refuse to stay knocked down
No one, no thing is going to put me under without a fight.
I stand

I stand
defiantly
in spite of
though bowed down
though bent
And I will stand straight again soon.
I may be battered
I may be cut
I may be bruised
I may be momentarily down.
BUT I WILL NOT STAY DOWN!!

I will not run
I will not hide
I will stand
facing forward
defiantly
in spite of
though fearing
though hurting
I WILL STAND
even if it seems foolish
even if it seems hopeless
even if others leave
even if I'm ridiculed.

And I will change

I will get stronger
though weak now
I will be joyful
though grief beckons
I will be giving
if I have but a penny and song
I will be me
not hardened
not toughened
not spiteful
not mean
I WILL HOLD TO GOD's vision of me

You may push my buttons
but I will sing a song
You may try to name me
but I will keep my God-given name
You may knock me down
but I will get back up.

This I choose.
This is the choice God gave me.
I choose to live.
I choose to stand.