I RISE FROM THE ASHES, A POEM BY XHULI SPAHUI

I rise from the ashes,

not as a miracle,

but as proof

that even falling

has a voice.

I walked on crumbs of hope,

with empty pockets

and a heart full of wounds that never spoke,

yet beat loudly

like drums of war.

Words burned me,

silence knocked me down,

I was forgotten by those

whose hands appeared

only when the light was on.

But I learned the darkness,

the way one learns an ancient language:

slowly,

with fear,

and with respect.

From the ashes I rise,

my back still warm from the fire,

yet my eyes forward.

Because now I know:

strength is not born from victory,

but from standing

when everything tells you “enough.”

I am a walking wound,

I am hope that refused to fade,

I am the small step

that challenges fear

every morning.

And if they ask me who I am,

I will simply say:

I am the one who burned,

but did not turn to ash —

I am the one who

rose from it.

Author: Xhuli Spahiu 

Kosovo 🇽🇰

Xhuli Spahiu is an Albanian poet from Kosovo, whose voice stands out for its sensitivity, deep reflection, and refined poetic language. Her poetry explores themes such as identity, love, inner experience, and the relationship between human beings, time, and memory. With a restrained style and carefully crafted imagery, she brings sincere emotions and universal experiences into her verses. Her work has been published in literary magazines and cultural platforms, establishing her as a distinctive voice in contemporary poetry.