You, who have been split open
by love or loss or both,
somehow still stand,
though you have no idea
why.

You wonder if this gash,
reopened far too many times,
can possibly heal—
perhaps with divine sutures—
so that one day you’ll barely
perceive the trace of a scar.

It seems impossible
to your hollowed-out self,
but, dear one, trust us—

healing happens in the shadows
where there is always a little light,
even if your weary eyes can’t
perceive it.

What has enriched you—
and, yes, opened you
in joy and grief—
can one day fill you
again.

In fact, it already has.

•••

With thanks to Debra Bernier at Shaping Spirit for the inspiration! You can find Debra Bernier’s work here.