Hour Twenty-One, Irregular Ode

Ode To My Scars

Once, you were pink and puckered,
drawing surrounding flesh up tight
against you, you needy whores,
but you have since silvered and loosened,
releasing your neighboring hostages
and gracefully fading into the background,
as good scars should.

You had your purpose, knitting me whole
once more after some truly messed up
s**t would have rent me apart, bleeding,
but I can hold my own now, thank you.
You’re free to go,
though I know you won’t.

Some of you are my bosom buddies,
but the largest of you bisects my torso
into upper and lower halves,
a reminder of what I endured
to have my sons.
At least you have the decency to smile.

10 thoughts on “Hour Twenty-One, Irregular Ode

  1. Hour 21 Irregular Ode-This is stunning Tracy. First, I love the theme and tone (s). This truly resonated as I have moved from a relationship of being embarrassed by my scars to a relationship of love, pride and gratitude. “You had purpose knitting me whole…”Some of you are my bosom buddies…” ” A reminder of what I have endured….”Atleast you have the decency to smile.” I love your personification, wit and irony…This is a poem of redemption too! Beautiful! My vote is this one!

    1. Thank you, my friend! I think you’re onto something with redemption–until recently, I’ve been so earnest and serious with most of my poetry. Nothing wrong with that if that’s where you’re at and what you need to release to the paper, but lately I’ve felt a bit of playfulness and humor creeping in that I haven’t had before. Much to do with where I am in life now, I think. I think I will submit this one, thanks!

  2. Love the ending and how you are embracing your scars! I had major surgery following my cancer diagnosis and have a huge scar across my middle – I am going to now think of it ‘smiling’! Thank you for that!

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