Who I Once Was

I look back to who I once was... A shadow of a former me? Or a shadow of a hidden me... Once loving, compassionate and kind, Always putting others before, Loving all, giving all, all in all. Wearing its heart on its sleeve, Only to have it scorned and criticized, To have it thrown in the dust of too muchness, For it's glare was too bright, It could not be looked upon, It could not be understood.. For where does such a love originate, For why would it be that one would love another so, Without price or without thought, But there was a price, A price paid in scars, pain and numbness, Paid by the giver, all in all. A heart trampled in dust over and over, until deeper and deeper it goes, out of sight, out of pain, Where no more it's shine can be seen, No more it's warmth can be felt, No more can it be trampled upon. Yet still if you listen closely, it's murmur can be heard, If you peer through the thickets, a shimmer can be caught, If you pass by - while the gates are open - you will see it smiling at you with arms wide open, wanting to embrace all once more, wanting to tell all that this love was born from the selfless love of another, a love that gave all and thought nothing of itself, a love that just gave and gave and never stoped giving, was born from the love of a mother who taught it how...