A Painting in Agony

I etch my life into my skin,

Swirling ink bares my soul,

All I will be, all I have been,

And all that makes me whole.

A koi for courage and success,

Ambition and long life,

Orange for warmth and happiness,

Red for conquering strife.

And on my back an Albatross,

With wings stretched to the sky,

The blue-green waves that spill across

My Who, my How, my Why?

The canvas of my flesh is where,

You'll see just Who I am,

See How my soul has been laid bare,

Why I don't give a damn.

Yet for my strength of character,

I've been battered and bruised,

I won't stay down, I'll be better,

I won't ever be used.

Bright gold fills all spaces between,

Beautiful cracks and flaws,

No one can say I'm not a queen,

Kintsugi makes my laws.