The god of war,

But not always the violent kind.

The god of fighting,

He doesn’t care what you battle,

Just keep fighting,

Never give in.

He smiles at teens,

Suffering, struggling, drowning.

He smiles at them

Because they are fighting.

Any battle is worthy

Of the god of war.

“Smile,” he says.

“Show them your strength.”

His eyes burn as he laughs.

“Smile,” he says.

“You win if you survive.

You survive if you never stop fighting.”

The god of war,

Only sometimes the violent kind.

The god of fighting

Finds his temples

In boxing rings

Where everything goes.

Ares represents life,

Because to live is to fight.

To live is to battle

Every second of every day,

Just to breathe,

Just to keep going.