In my life
I have witnessed
a great many things
I have witnessed
the evil hands
of violence
against the people I love
and the disapproving gaze
of beautiful strangers
at my own torn clothing
and foreign hued skin
I have witnessed
the bitter cold
of poverty
in winter
snuggled up
next to kerosene heaters
my toes
are still cold
I have witnessed
heartbreak
betrayal
and
the death of friends
and family
memories of shame
and loss
have wrapped themselves
around my heart
like a serpent
binding me
to a past
that I cannot escape
I have witnessed
defeat
time
and time
and time
again
but I
am still
alive.
because for all
the darkness
that has been
gifted
to me
I have witnessed
love
a force that shadows
make stronger
that shame
makes deeper
and that the past
cannot truly obscure
I have witnessed
my daughters’ eyes
where pain melts
into puddles
in which to splash
and radiant light
denies darkness
his own cloak
I have witnessed
love
found in lazy mornings
lounging in beds
of partners
who have shared
beautiful memories
of this journey
where honesty
healed
old wounds
with hot tea
and embraced laughter
that does not perish
I have witnessed
friendships
that have
saved me
from drowning
adrift
in the darkest waters
of my own storms
for you see
our darkness
gives us a reason
to stand together
you and I
here and now
forever and always
beautiful is the gift
that you might witness
a many
great things
you
are still
alive
we
are still
alive
to fight
to discover
to love
together