bloodied footprints.

beginning to realise my pain could have a purpose.

Photo by Nikita Tikhomirov on Unsplash

shame,


isn't just a thorn in your side;

  a splinter in your thumb,

    pebbles in your shoe.


  it's the whole fucking rose garden,

    wrapped around your throat.

   a fence of fractured wood,

    nailing mistakes to your hands.

  bare feet stomping on broken glass,

    piercing until there's naught but scars upon scars.

                   
  it will kill you if you let it

  so seek hope, in a higher power

  friendship, in communities
         
  and, when possible

  share your story.


    trusting in the pain;
 
  that your bloodied footprints

might guide others away from their own


shame.


-S-2024

---

From Chapter 2 of 'A Flat White; Medium, Half Sugar'; my debut poetry novel, which I will be releasing next month!

All paid annual subscribers will receive a free copy in the mail.

If you’d like to support me writing, please consider subscribing or giving via my Buy Me a Coffee.