December 14

I Have Learned….

 

 

I have learned,

to find beauty in the ugly,

to find a flower in the ashes,

to search around,

 

In cracks,

for something,

that pulses with vibrance

that radiates the world around it.

 

I have learned to find the seed,

of love, in my hate filled heart,

to nourish the seed,

when the poison takes over,

to coax the seed,

when it is scared to bloom,

the forbidden truth.

 

I have learned

to wipe the tears away,

to let the sarcasm falter,

to feel what is numbed,

when you are around,

your words,

sliced until,

I was drowning in my own blood,

the scars were fresh,

on my skin,

but the blood is drained,

and the scars have faded,

easier to conceal,

easier to forget.

 

I have learned,

to leave my mark,

to paint my words,

smear my tears,

over my smile,

to let you know,

why my heart throbs,

why my hands tremble,

without moving my lips.

 

I have learned,

to drape the cloak,

heavy with smiles,

weighted with laughs,

across my slumped shoulders,

so I can cry,

under my hood,

heavy with laughs,

weighted with smiles.

December 14

10 things I once had

What did I once have,

but have no longer?

What do I need back,

that is being held away?

 

My vibrant little shirt,

The most important thing of my childhood,

Shipped off to my cousin,

along with my free luxuries.

 

I used to be so certain

in the honesty of men,

in the trustworthiness of them.

All are gone, my innocence the tax.

 

As my brother moved out,

so did my free time.

School life took all,

…even my gym shirt.

 

If I could please,

just have one thing back,

I beg here on my knees.

My love for all humanity, I need it,

 

Fast.

December 14

seven things i know to be true

i know that the best people to hold hands with

are the ones with callouses on their palms and fingers

because they have fought to be here.

 

i know that butterflies are the multi-hued versions of angels on earth

and the reason they have such small, brittle lifespans is

because they are missed in the heavens above.

 

i know that i will have a child one day

innocence and purity; pure love is so very beautiful and so very admirable

because that is so very rare in our world now.

 

i know that sharing a name with another is supposed

to be a cause for unity and celebration and joy but it is not

because their name is more well-known than mine.

 

i know that you should treat others like trees in that

some of the most beautiful ones are the ones unlike any other

because you don’t chop it down for being different.

 

i know that we have all let someone down at one moment or another

but the very, very special ones have learned the very difficult skill of forgiveness

because we are all worth that.

 

i know that we tend to believe others bring out the best of us

but i think these qualities were always hidden right behind our twinkling eyes

because the words and opinions of others do not determine our worth

 


poetry challenge number three / claire b. / summaiya, mandeep, katherine, jade