Get Your Premium Membership

Outgrowing Self-Loathing

My suit of self-loathing no longer fits
The mirror of compassion tells me so
Years of bad-intentions held back growth 
After a time, the length of my sleeves bind
I didn’t realize I’ve become over-sized

These angry pants are fit for a small child
How silly I look with cuffs choking wrists
How I’ve loved my painfully straight jacket
Like it or not, the right suit still waits
No one other than I can disrobe loathing

The best cloak is the one from the womb
It takes skill to unstitch a childish blazer
It takes care to unhem pants outgrown
It takes love to go out in my birthday suit
Let tatters of anxiety fall down the chute

Self-loathing keeps me from disrobing
But, I’m not ready to shed my suit yet
The manly scissors that cuts are too heavy
After self-loathing is bare understanding
Forgive the man unstitching childishness

Let go of short-comings without clinging
Take the macho suit off the rack with care
Try on that fitted suit made for just me 
Wear it till love fills the over-sized space 
Take it all off till nakedness feels nice 

Matthew 24:18
"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak."

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 8/23/2023 11:37:00 PM
Glad you outgrew it I'm getting insights to outgrow it to Beautiful poem
Login to Reply

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry