They came for me
With sticks, stones and barbs.
They cut me to the flesh
Deep, raw and painful to the core.
In agony, I waited for the pain to subside
Thinking at the time that it would never, ever leave.
Some days it took hours,
Other days it took but minutes
For the skin to grow back
covering up the open wounds, but leaving
the scars behind.
To them I was easy prey
For I never struck back.
Every time they hit me harder
I would retreat further into my shell.
Shielding myself from the blows that fell
I curled into a foetal ball, seeking comfort
In the cocoon of my self.
Quiet, but made stronger by my ordeal.
As time went by
I learnt to deal with the blows.
I learnt not to place myself
In the midst of the battlefield.
Instead, off to the side stood I
And watched the blood flow on the ground.
Shattered by the meaningless wasteland,
I shuddered at the weapons that lay spent.
In our world these battles are real
The scars that words leave
Are there for few to see.
But if you can take a moment
Just a second to
Pause
Think
Reflect
And then reply
Imagine a world then
Where the scars fade
Because there is nobody left
To cast the first blow.
There’s you
There’s me
And there is a world between us.
In that space
There is a point called the meeting ground.
Let’s make the battle scars
A thing of the past.
~© Shailaja Vishwanath
Really powerful poem, Could literally visualize each and every stanza,
Beautiful poem Shailaja. Very sensitive lines.
“Let’s make the battle scars
A thing of the past.” – Will it be ever?
Inspiring poem, Shailaja.
A good message to keep in our hearts.
“…in that space there is a point called the meeting ground”…that line evoked thoughts of the beginning of what could be a riveting story. A very inspiring piece that I quite enjoyed reading.
Thank you, Jennifer 🙂
Wouldn’t it? Sigh…
Very difficult, Rachna. I agree. But that seems to be the only way I can let go. I need to forgive them so I can choose to move forward on my personal path of salvation.
A lot happened, Vinay. Lost a few good friends, people called me things I thought I didn’t deserve. Ah well, life goes on.
Such strong images in your opening stanza.
Let’s make the battle scars a thing of the past: Indeed! 🙂 Great idea! 😉 It would be a utopian world if that were the case! <3
This is profound stuff. Applicable to everyone. But sometimes it is so difficult to see reason especially if you’ve been wronged.
I can’t help but agree with Sid. The post ties up nicely, yes. But wondering what happened to bring you to these words.
Me too, Mary. With all my heart.
Thank you Niharika 🙂
Oh, I wish for that new world . . .
Stop looking into my soul 😉 A lot has gone into this, you’re right. Plus this ties in with a post later this week. 🙂
Can’t help but feel that there is something deeper than what these words convey here. 🙂
Superb and soulful to read.Keep writing such wonderful poems.???