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Time's Loving Balm

Poem.

By Paul StewartPublished 8 months ago 1 min read
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

worth and value

can be hard to wrap your head around

whether through abuse or past wrongs

the ideas, the concepts, the constructs

do not always sit well, feel right

-

#

trauma and sin

can cauterize and catheterise confidence

leave you empty, but undeserving of

the kindness, the love, the acceptance

you need

-

#

time and self-love

can scrub at the wounds, as anti-septic

with a soothing balm that takes the edge

once you’re refreshed, renewed

and ready

-

#

to love yourself

-

again

*

Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: This was originally published on Medium via Catharsis Chronicles on April 6th, 2025.

Here are some other things:

Also, if you want to own some of my earlier work, you can by following the link and buying my debut book The Accidental Poet: Poetry Collection on paperback, ebook or read it as part of Kindle Unlimited, by following the link below.

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About the Creator

Paul Stewart

Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.

The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!

Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!

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Comments (9)

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  • A. J. Schoenfeld8 months ago

    I think everyone can relate to this one, at least the first part. I promise my children at home and the young adults I work with that the second part of this poem is true. Time, with the right focus, can eventually heal us. But I see so many at the University where I work lost to the anguish left by trauma and sin. I just want to shout at them "can't you see how beautiful you are?"

  • Loved the resolution of this one. Hope in our hands 💜

  • Caroline Craven8 months ago

    Gosh this was good - the whole idea of feeling unworthy of love and kindness. Bravo, Paul.

  • Dalma Ubitz8 months ago

    Worth and value... and incredibly strong first line. Loved this, Paul!

  • This was soooo profound! Loved your poem, Sir Paul!

  • John Cox8 months ago

    It’s hard to abandon our old destructive patterns, isn’t it? I like the positivity of the message: time and self-love to break the vicious cycle of abuse and self-loathing. Great poem, Paul!

  • Jess Boyes8 months ago

    A great reminder that although it can be a struggle, in time and at their own pace, a person can get through to the other side ❤️ Great work, Paul

  • Time heals all wounds..., ...unless it doesn't. Only time will tell..., ...& then perhaps only when it runs out. Some wounds heal. Some leave a scar. Some lay forever open, seeping with sorrow 'til there is no tomorrow.

  • Test8 months ago

    We seem to be on the same wavelength my friend... I have something similar to this in draft. Love this little reminder for us to remember our worth and that we're worthy of love! Well done Paul!!

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