to look again

Photo by engin akyurt

We carry our pain
unique to our stories.
For some,
it's the spirit,
denied and debated.
For others,
the heart,
dismissed and degraded.

For me,
it's the parts
made up of dense matter.
That I’ve tucked,
deep into pockets
to cut down on the chatter.

Some spread it
around
body, heart, and spirit.
Making them tense
and tender
when others get near it.

Survival requires
quickly organizing
our baggage.
Reactive,
instinctual,
tucking it all
into the attic.

But the day will come,
when life makes it clear,
if we don’t face our pain,
It will expand and loom nearer.

It will haunt our relationships,
and swell in our joints.
It will lengthen our sorrow,
and limit our viewpoints.

We reach for solutions,
quick fixes and potions.
We ache for relief,
and respite from emotions.

But it grows,
louder
and louder,
until we can
no longer bear.
Threat to survival
is now found
in despair.

How do we mend,
the places
we carry
our pain?
To remember
a new suffering,
may be similar
but certainly
not the same.

Once safety
is secure,
it's time to
reflect.
Softness
and patience,
guides us
to the places,
within us
that need
more respect.

To look again,
with curious eyes
and compassionate hearts.
Not seeking what is wrong,
rather . . .
WHAT IS NEEDED
to integrate
all of our beautiful parts.