SCARS

It is not the scars
on your face or body
that count, but those
which in varying degrees
are etched into your heart.
Unlike the more visible scars
left after the healing of needed
surgical processes, there are no
visual, stitched scars on your heart.

Scars of the heart incurred through
loss, disappointment, treachery –
emotional, psychological, irreparable,
wounds, those more shallow, able to be
overcome in time, perhaps forgotten -
others, more serious, deeply ingrained
leaving hurts lasting years, a lifetime –
finally, those affronts leaving one in an
emotionally shattered and destitute state
that only death can ease the pain, the
final price, paid for a broken heart.

Avoidance, courage, tenacity, understanding
can, on occasion redirect, stop such anger -
thus negating the necessity of confrontation,
of misunderstandings, of non-communication -
often the harbingers of serious differences which,
if left uncontrolled, can assuredly lead to one’s
life-time failure and ultimate disaster.

 

Herbert Holzbauer
© February 2007

 

Midi: "Scar"
(Missy Higgins)
(www.sunncity.com)

 

Art: "Scar-Heart"
Artist: Mary Dignan
(www.lighthouse-sf.org)