New Growth

I didn’t like the broccoli on my plate
So he grabbed me by the neck and I hurtled through space
He wore big, hard shoes/kicked me with both
And that was the beginning of new growth

He whispered, “Come and see what I’ve got ”
The door clicked as he hissed, “Don’t you dare tell your mom ”
So I floated off, a six year old ghost
And that was the beginning of new growth

All these memories got stuffed into a box
Hidden in my brain never to be opened
But these memories had a life of their own
And one day that box exploded

So I battled all my nightmares face to face
Every struggle left a tender seed in it’s wake
That drifted down through deep winter snow
And in time I felt the signs of new growth

Now I’ve grown some kindness/I’ve grown some love
Grown a little patience/but not much trust
I’ve grown some compassion and I think this is true
You never know what a soul’s been through
What someone’s going through

So when people rage or live in fear
When it seems for no reason their eyes fill with tears
I feel what they feel and pray down the road
Their old wounds lead to new growth


© Richard Helm