PERHAPS

I do not dismiss the grief and shame

you have spent years facing

I understand whence they come

I am your witness

I bear witness to the horror

Believe it

or not

I have an idea

however

watching your struggle

the incessant

ripping

gripping

tripping

pain

I suggest that your obsession with it all

is more damaging

more debilitating

imprisons your battered heart

enslaves your shattered mind

more

than the horrible events themselves

I agree

you cannot ignore

you cannot forget

certainly not forgive

certainly not

I believe

however

you can break its hold

control its influence

box it up

yes

compartmentalize it

allow yourself a few minutes

now and then

to wallow

then put it away

where you can readily find it

then get back to life

Perhaps

or not

“Get back to where you once belonged…”

one step at a time, eh?