Glistening tear slipping
almost imperceptively down
ivory smooth cheeks –
throwing back a reflection
of a multitude of tiny hurts,
little stabbing blows leaving
shadows of scars piled one
upon another to give a semblance
of gaping wounds . . .
but far more lasting
in effect, for to reach
healthy, pink flesh
layer after layer must
be carefully peeled, in
agonized slow motion,
further inflicting, increasing
the pain . . . leaving behind
even fainter, wispy
wafting traces of shadowy
hurts, transparently thin,
never seen but felt
in their lingering ache.