Why does it hurt
to close my eyes?
Why does my mind
come out with knives?
Why to the needles
still stick in my skin?
Why does it have
to hurt again?
They say our brains
don’t remember pain.
No memories of broken bones,
of muscles torn, or sprained.
But the mind
remembers fear,
and grief, and guilt,
and losses,
so clear.
Brings back trauma,
that feels real,
and sincere.
At night when we’re alone
it creeps up in our bones
and whispers of things
we thought we left behind.
Thank God,
it isn’t every night.
Just often enough
to keep it in mind.
Nightmares
are great reminders
to keep trying to live life
in the light.
DJR – 2023
