It doesn’t take much effort to create
a lifetime of damage; to spoil the perfection
of a smooth façade. But come to think of it:
even before being marred by a weapon
was anything ever without fault? For before
the damage was done, imperfections were imparted.
There is no true symmetry in nature,
there is nothing created by God that doesn’t
have a blemish. To exist is to experience pain.
To exist is to endure. Newness requires that
the old be put to rest; discarded peacefully.
We were never destined to stay whole, but 
neither were we meant to succumb to the 
breaking of our skin or our spirit. So,
grant yourself time & grace. Don’t rush the healing. 
The body and heart intuitively know 
from where to seek help. Give your hurt
some space. Your scars aren’t signs 
of weakness; they are proof of living resilience.

Originally published in Objects Things Stuff—Messy Bits We Carry Around (Dark Thirty Poetry Publishing, 2025)

SDG