A body that’s weathered by storms,
Each scar a testament to the tide that pulled her through,
Yet still her heart beats, a rhythm of resilience,
A song of survival echoing in the quiet spaces between the pain.
Imagine pain as a rugged terrain, with valleys of despair
And peaks of hope, where she must navigate
Through the darkness to find the light.
A heavy cloak of pain, drapes across her shoulders,
Yet she carries it with a quiet dignity.
There seems to be no way for her to break away,
She can find no place to hide.
Not trying to escape the pain takes her deep inside.
She only hopes that when the pain comes to an end,
That things will begin to calm, heal, and mend—
That something beautiful will come from it.
To find meaning from it all.
Pain leaves its impact on her mind, body, and soul.
She wrestles against it, barely treading water,
Sometimes turning away because she can hardly breathe.
She feels that her pain is more painful than the blade of a knife.
Each day she holds trials she must face.
Through her pain and strife, she has been blessed by love, and to life.
Though the road has been long and hard, she keeps moving forward,
With a beating heart.
Each step she grows stronger.
She has welcomed change, and how to love herself a bit longer.
So, she’ll keep moving forward, with a heart filled with hope,
And each passing day she learns to cope.
It is worth the fight.

julie hanft  2025