Gather All the Wounds

Gather all the wounds

the ones that have been there from early on

that you hoped might be fully healed,

or feared would never be.

Gather the new ones

the ones that surprise you,

when you consider that by now

you thought your skin was thick enough

to resist being harmed.

Gather them all

All the wounds: deep, healed, healing

Let them be alchemized into beauty

They are your light, your strength,

Your survival story.

They are meant to be honoured,

Not forgotten.