SHACKLES

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even the release is painful
the body having been reshaped by them

they weigh down skin and muscle and bone and spirit
they are corroded and toxic and ugly and mean

the release of each one reveals the contortion that grew around it
and over time the walk has become crooked and fingers twisted
even the spine is misshapen now

at long last the lungs take a fuller deeper breath
and the eyes begin to see more clearly

and maybe - ha!

we could make a dance out of this strange shuffle
stepping into the strangeness of unknown and not yet
perhaps the scars will be interesting

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yes they will bleed and ooze their salve once again
and slowly the edges of the wound will come together
and perhaps the pattern of these scars will reveal
the depth and beauty of everywhere we have been together

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all that was lost and carried and released 
and all that has been given 

revealing this extraordinary tapestry fully 

with no hiding and no shame and all this largeness

 

 

© patty forsberg