A poem

Written December 18, 2024 by Dayna Rhode

I almost spent a lifetime

wasting all I’m worth.

I would have chased love to death

and severed sacred mirth.

I feel blessed within this mercy,

in being all I need.

For me to heal in beauty

is heavenly indeed.

If I had simply trusted

what this body already knew,

those years marred in self-sacrifice

would have been renewed.

If I hadn’t suffered torment

from all I wouldn’t see,

I might have even realized that

not everyone’s for me.

I feel grateful that I honored

every single tear.

I’m thankful that I bothered

to withdraw myself from fear.

For if I hadn’t done this–

if I hadn’t faced my pain–

I’d still be chasing demons,

wishing love to need me once again.