As a child of ten, I had an accident that has stayed with me through life.
Badly scarred on my left shoulder, my wound shattered any notion of being a “perfect son.” With a tear to my flesh that required many stitches, even though I was sewn up tight, the random and visible gash was a constant reminder of imperfection.
As I moved through high school and onto college, my embarrassment became a point of interest and a point of difference to others. As I sat in tears and in pain as that wounded child at the scene, I never imagined my unique mark would become one of distinction.
As Leonard Cohen suggested, our wounds let light into our lives and can be sources of life-altering wisdom. Mine certainly did.
Thanks to Jennifer Polhemus and Alan Abrams of Sligo Creek Publishing for including me in his Poetry Anthology “Bearing Witness, Poetry for Troubled Times.”
Love this poem, Kirk! Deeply personal and insightful.
Scars can be inside as well as outside. Those outside we cannot hide, those inside often are. Thanks for continuing to write, Kirk.