Beautiful Scars

A poem about my scar from my scoliosis surgery.

I turn my back to the mirror,

The reflection you thought it may be is not what it may appear.

I lift up my shirt and a red line is like a scarlet ribbon down my back.

Gently blanketing my skin,

Hiding where the scalpel entered in.

No longer do I fear,

All those things I did before.

I now can live for something more,

More than I ever could before.

I lift my shirt higher only to display,

The scarlet ribbon against my skin,

That represents a true journey that I have endured,

One of hope, and pain.

A sacrfice that will not go in vain.

For here I display the honour it is to be myself.

For I am unique from everyone else.

And now I will accept this scarlet ribbon as a badge of courage,

A Symbol of Strength.

A scarlet ribbon down the length of my back,

Like a road or rail road tracks.

As It lies down for a lifelong stay.

A beauty mark that'll never go away.

Now I can live better than before,

Now I can live for something better,

and be something more!

Unlike a lipstick smear of a lovers' kiss,

This scarlet ribbon will never be missed,

Forever a part of me,

Even when I lie below the earth.

6 feet under,

It will stay.

A life long companion.

A reminder of who I am, and who I now can be.

A Forever ''Thank You'' to myself.

For a request that no one else could grant.

I did this for myself,

Disregarded the voices who said I could not or that I am 'too afraid.'

The doubts I had have disapeared,

Their opinion is no longer needed,

No longer heard or here.

This is for the voices who said ''I can't', 

I lift up a special finger and give it a shout!

I have shown a love for myself not many have,

A courage not many will show,

A hidden strength that not many know,

and many lessons I have gained.

It wasn't easy, but it was possible

 and that's what mattered to me.

So, now to all of you who think you cannot go on.

Don't let fear stop you, Don't let anything stand in your way.

Have the courage to conquer fear,

and your worries will fade away.

Reviews

[Antoñyo]

The scar photo lured me (my father had one just like but in front), but the read held me captive.

I have shown a love for myself not many have,
A courage not many will show,
A hidden strength that not many know,
and many lessons I have gained.

This and more....courageous, courageous piece and person!

[Soul Fire]

Thank you very much Antonyo! :)) It's inspired by my personal experience with my scoliosis corrective spinal fusion surgery. :) It's about the scar I have now, from the surgery. A constant reminder of my strength and courage . :)

[Foxemerald]

Beautiful, like you are courageous warrior! Good on you for finding the strength to do it. I have scoliosis too, it can be debilitating for sure. Surgery has never been recommended to me though. I commend your courage and strength in facing down the enemy that has shown up on your path. Keep pushing forward, a torchlight of strength and light 🔥

[Mike]

Beautifully written ... Well done

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You know, several years ago I broke my leg very badly and had to have surgery. I now have a seven inch L shaped scar that runs beneath my knee and then turns and goes down to my ankle. I was positively heartbroken by the scar while I was laying in bed for 10 weeks looking at it, unable to walk still at that time. I thought I was somehow not the same, not as attractive...ugly in a way. Then, I began to think about its innate beauty, which is delivered in the fact that I survived something that could have been much worse...I made a turn.

Your piece reminded me of myself, and I enjoyed the reading quite a lot. The words flowed well and the concept was beautiful. We are our scars; our scars are us. Nicely done.

[Soul Fire]

thank you very much (: I really appreciate your review

[Wolfwind]

Two thumbs up! A great poem that fills us with the joy of your success and uplifting event. Thanks for sharing a piece of and a reflection of the journey that you undertook and completed!

Great Ink!
Aaron

[Soul Fire]

thank you very much!

[Rose of Gondor]

Every scar, physical or emotional, is the testament that something happened in your life, but you were able to overcome it and come out fighting. These same scars prove "what doesn't kill you make you stronger." A lovely poem, admire the courage. We all get scars on the road of life. What matters is what we do with those scars.

[Soul Fire]

Very wise words (: thanks for your review

[Rose of Gondor]

welcome :)

[SmileBig :)]

I like the poem. Hmm, I admire you greatly. I myself, don't look at myself as unique. I had 16 vertabrae fused, and the scar is down my entire back, and partially in my neck. I died once on the table for lack of blood, had 3 blood transfusions, had an intestine problem from the medicine after my surgery that almost killed me, and I didn't leave the hospital for 2 weeks. When I left, I was on a water diet, throwing up every day, and I was 54 pounds, I was 14 and 5'7. The medicine didn't work well with me, but I was in a lot of pain, so I had to stick with it. After a while, I got used to it. That was 3 weeks in. Here, I had a week left until my first year of highschool started, and through the doubts, I got off of all my medicine and started my school year exactly a month after my surgery. My doctors called me unusual, and a miracle. It's my 4 year mark on the 24th. Yet I don't feel unique...I feel less then, if anything. Like I said, I admire you for feeling unique and being strong.

[Soul Fire]

Aw thank you.im sorry you had to go through all of that.Stay strong and you are unique and strong

[Katerina Felinova]

Beautiful poem!

What a great and positive way to think about something you have gone through. And to use that experience to want to help others is so generous! I'm glad that your surgery has allowed you to do things you could not before.

But of course, my favorite line is

This is for the voices who said ''I can't',
I lift up a special finger and give it a shout!

There will always be someone on the side lines telling you you can't! And you showed them all wrong and that in itself is an amazing accomplishment.

Wear that badge of courage with pride my dear. You deserve to! :)

--Katerina

[Soul Fire]

Thank you very much Katerina. I risked my life in the hopes of gaining a better life.And even though it was difficult, and some people said I couldn't. I did. and im recovering faster than my doctor saif I woukd.

[Soul Fire]

What a wonderful reflection of truth to the world, deeply thought out, very wise, and very true. One must accept his/her full good, bad and the ugly, for it becomes beauty.

"I have shown a love for myself not many have,
A courage not many will show,
A hidden strength that not many know,
and many lessons I have gained.

For only then to be open to love others, well done.
Brilliant...

- Elisa

[Soul Fire]

Thank you very much Elisa.Laura (: this poem is about a gift of life I have to.myself

[Blissful Sin]

Outstanding! Absolutely out of my mind! This is very good and I do hope to read a lot more of your work!!

-Bliss

[Soul Fire]

Wow, thank you for such a beautiful compliment. I very much appreciate it. I hope you will continue to read my work.Thank you.