Humanness

Soft, fragile bodies We’ve all glued things on for protection Knives, metal plates, bits of broken glass So when we get close, your nails sink surprisingly into my back At the same moment the diamond shard on my face mall your eyes. We cry Then smile and promise things will be the same “You’re still beautiful,” you say “No one will even notice,” I reply But even after the blood stops rushing and is cleaned away After the wounds heal and are all but forgotten The scars remain. But perhaps That is part of being human. Maybe if we weren’t so afraid of dying We wouldn’t arm ourselves in destructive protection Maybe if we weren’t in denial The scares would fade. Or become truly beautiful.