Do not often talk about your pain,
scars your soul has borne for eons;
safety lies in secrets hidden,
tucked away, wrapped in cotton batting,
Perhaps you coat them with scar’s cover,
matte makeup from a pharmacy—
bought online so no one knows—
skin tone matches yours in dim light.
Hide away from spotlights shining from tricksters’ eyes,
to never disclose your tender spots,
bruises never fully healed over so many years.
Layers of scar tissue will shield them,
travertine limestone formed when calcareous waters flowed
across your memories concreting them in rock.
Striated, smooth and cool to your touch most days,
seared burning hot in summer desert sun.
Etched in pain, only dearest ones.
you trust because you must,
may touch the hollows and ridges,
hidden beneath obdurate mineral laminations.
Let us be dear trusted ones to each other.
I will show you mine if you show me yours,
life’s scars writ upon our souls.
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