Damaged Goods

You may have suffered trauma,
abuse, neglect, a thousand
bitter tragedies in your life.
You may have taken countless
wrong turns, sunk into despair,
endured rejection, unrequited love.

But you have survived, surmounted
the jagged mountains of sorrow,
learned to stretch, to be resilient
to grow beyond the narrow confines
of pity and resentment. Your cracks
and crevises have been filled
with the mortar of healing, your heart
softened by tears of compassion.

You are no longer damaged goods
but richer than those who travel
roads paved with gold, who roam
honey-laden gardens. Your wounds
have become tender mercies,
your scars badges of courage
emblazoned like stars.