Never Again

Never again, she swore to herself, never again

She wouldn’t cry; she wouldn’t cower.

Anger seeded in her heart, growing into a

Thorny vine of resentment where

Vengeful fruits hung under

The darkened leaves waiting to ripen.

Bruises of black and blue

Created a camouflage that she hid under.

Marble skin cracked and melded together

With rivulets of silver and gold.

She held the scars on her heart close

And traced the lines and recited their chant.

Never again. Never again. Never Again.

Stinging memories brought fear to the surface.

She grabbed them by the throat and

Stuffed them away down into the abyss.

The scream she kept locked inside

Erupted into a savage song.

Never again! Never again! Never again!

The world ravaged and tore her flesh

Until she bled vermilion from gaping wounds.

What came out of the crucible was wrought iron

Bone traded for steel, skin for armor, a heart for stone.

She longed to fly away with the birds

Soaring far away.

But what she didn’t realize was that

She couldn’t fly under the weight of her rage.