6 Ways to Look at a Scar |
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1. |
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still tender, a brick-red reminder |
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of pains past |
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throbbing even now |
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under the neon smiley face Band-Aid |
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you put over it. |
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2. |
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softer, paler, stronger, deeper |
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life runs thicker through the veins |
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that feed it |
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bringing that life back to your heart |
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along with the pain |
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for all you feel |
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that you have ever felt |
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is the pain. |
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3. |
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you wear long sleeves |
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unable or unwilling to face me |
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when I ask why |
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why you do so in August. |
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4. |
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you show it to everybody |
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eager for them to ask |
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how it came to be part of you |
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and all you can say is |
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the other guy came out worse. |
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5. |
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you return from the doctor |
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he said he's sorry, |
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he can't do anything for you, |
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you should get used to it. |
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not good enough, you say |
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and you return to the phone book |
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looking for someone to help you |
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you look a long time. |
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6. |
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you look at it |
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seeing only the memory |
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reliving its creation |
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unaware that the skin itself |
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has long ago healed. |
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Content © copyright 2003 by Lizzy Miller. All rights reserved.