the hurt ripped my heart

shook my bones to shattering, and

sent me scurrying to denial,

to masks unworn for years,

and my whole being cried NO!

+

then words came, cutting words

designed to wound, venomous,

spat with anger back and forth,

so I hid, more masks, as I fortified myself

against this brokenness..

and my whole being cried NO!

+

later brittle strength,

I will survive, will make it through this pain,

but my defences crumbled,

the words needed to be faced, sifted

sometimes owned…

I am broken too

masks had to be named, discarded…

the no has no place now….

+

now fragile I move on,

learning to forgive,

to love myself, and beyond myself,

beginning to live this new reality

in freedom step by step

as a new song emerges with rhythms of grace

my heart is sing softly, yes, yes, yes….

Painting mine