I was desperate to hold the whole world's pain

But I couldn't carry it all

And I certainly couldn't heal it 

So all that was left was to shout back my own pain 

And echo back and forth in resounding cacophony my childhood pain that went unheard 

And the continuous torment from being powerless to resolve all the pain I tried to bear 

I couldn't heal it, but goddamn was I convinced I should rip my arms and heart apart trying to wrap my entire self around it

Determined to protect everyone in ways I wished I had been protected 

I deserved it

And so did they

But

I had to accept that ripping myself to pieces couldn't bring peace to their pain 

I couldn't rescue everyone 

I could rescue myself

And it seemed selfish

But if I wanted to reduce the world's pain,

I could start with the burden I actually had the power to lighten

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