An Open Letter to My Heart

Dear Heart of Mine,

Thank you

For carrying on,

Trudging through the minefields

Of heartache after heartache.

You’ve shattered like bird bones

And reassembled yourself

More times than we can count,

Meticulously decoupaging

The pieces back together,

Just leaving enough space

To let light seep in.//

You are a miracle,

You whom I have placed in the hands

Of reckless men

Who could never see you

For the gift you are.

And yet you survived,

Only growing stronger,

More courageous,

More resilient,

Still seeking hands

That might finally handle you with care.//

You have persevered

When all you wanted was to rest,

Pressing yourself against his own heart

Long after its beat had ceased

Wishing you could give him your power,

Willing him to live

By the sheer force of your love.

And in that moment,

You wanted to explode,

To lie motionless next to him forever,

But you moved us forward.//

And I apologize

For every time I didn’t listen

When you were beating down the walls

Of my ribcage,

Begging to be heard.

I’m sorry

For forsaking you

For cheap thrills and pretty words,

And for failing to protect you

From those things

You still haven’t healed from.//

I promise to honor you,

To keep you safe

And hold you gingerly

Like a precious treasure.

I promise to see you

Not just your scars,

But your beauty.

I promise to give you

That good love

You share so freely

But never believed you deserved. //

Ever yours,

Me