it is not okay

to simply

download

pain

 

prickly

with hurt

and injury

perpetuating

 

sword

white hot

it slashes

without

discrimination

 

and limbs are

severed, and

hearts bleed

fresh

 

yes, your pain

is valid, even

understood

 

but it does

not give you

license just

to strike

 

this pain that

has become

part of your

identity must

be allowed

to be more

suitably

processed

 

and that takes

intentionality

and courage

and patience

 

and these flashes

of outrage do

nothing but

add to shame

 

and haven’t

we all had

enough of

that

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image: Cathi Geisler