A Used Up Welcome Mat

Covered in dirt.

Edges ratty and torn.

The word "Welcome" faded; replaced with "W---me"

Pieces of grass and leaves ground deep into the threads of the fabric.

It was once bright and cheerful in it's color and design, the word "welcome" an accurate statement.

But with the passing of time, one foot after another passed across it's surface, wiping away some of the word, some of the color, and leaving behind some dirt and other things too.

Yet despite the constant barrage of footsteps, it remains.

Steadfast in it's duty, increasingly worse for wear, but consistent and not moving.

Along with the foot traffic, comes the rain, the heat, the cold and the wind. All of these natural phenomenon doing further damage.

Now brittle and broken, it is lifted from it's place, leaving behind nothing but an outline of what once was.

Once a bright, colorful cheerful welcome mat. Helpful in purpose, welcoming in heart. Cheerful and hopeful and bright. Clean and beautiful.

Only to become faded, torn and ratty. Filled with all the discarded junk others left behind. Used again and again to help others feel clean, and a little less burdened. Withstood the elements, and the daily footsteps for as long as possible. Absorbed everything that touched it.

Until one day it was too full to absorb anymore.

No longer welcoming, cheerful, bright. Now faded, fragile and tossed aside.

The "welcome" mat, now reduced to "w---me."

Which should really stand for "what about me?"