Death Itself: And Other Poems

Battle Scars

I am covered in battle scars

Some are healed injuries

From wars fought against playground foes

After we feasted in peace and friendship

Others are the marks left by poison

Distributed by insect fighter pilots

My attempts to relieve the symptoms

Left self-inflicted wounds

That would leave marks across my skin

Dots that decorate my back

Are future memories from my ongoing crusade

Myself versus my own hormones

The scars across my back are merely ghosts

Current enemies still linger along my face

A few are the only evidence of singular skirmishes

One across my forearm

From when hunger won out over caution

And I found myself in fire

Red and white rivers atop my thighs and hips

Decorations provided from my DNA

A fight I didn't realize occurred

Until I saw the effects of it

There are more still

Itches I relentlessly scratched despite sense

Idle fingernails dragged across skin

Some scuffles caused blood

Some only redness

Only the worst leave their mark

My skin is tan and pink

Splattered with brown where it has been touched by the sun

Sometimes there is an angry red

Or a sickly green

But what I enjoy are the scars

Each holds a tale of heroism and courage

The badges that mark a life well lived

Even it was one without caution

My body is speckled with blue and purple and grey

Decorated by hues of white and red and black

I am covered with battle scars