The Scraping of Pain's Shovels
Scooping up my pain with these shovels as I try to write,
embracing all I lost in a life I never knew I deserved.
Keeping forgiveness and empathy in my clear sight,
and trying to remember all the love I have reserved.
I was scraping these shovels and they quickly swerved,
so, I take the dustpan and try to make things right.
Should I excavate the anguish and forget the pain?
Maybe the torment will cease and I will be free.
I could only hope that the happy memories remain
allowing this woman to be no one else except me.
The scraping of these shovels has made me see clearly.
The chafing and attrition have taken my life in vain.
The metal on the cement gives me relief, yet fear.
It screeches and moans the emotions I never knew
I’d feel when I looked at the world in a shattered mirror.
Believe me when I say the scratching is so true
as I live a life of abrasion with my construction crew-
explaining the scraping sound to all who will hear.
March 10, 2019
John Lawless
The Scraping of Shovels
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