Redemption

A blush can serve as a superficial cipher

A surge of blood to the skin’s surface

which sets the face aglow

before rushing from fingertip to toe,

An over-enthusiastic display of sentiment

That gives pause to posit if it’s joy or contempt

 

But shame sets itself aside;

It morphs into a hide

One the wearer pulls taut to avoid another’s gaze.

And yet serves as a beacon to those around,

drawing strength from their stares

and delight from their censure

                                

If it shed its coat, what would it reveal?

A soft shell and ingredients enough to make a meal 

An open invitation to the weary to feast

and make short shrift of near skeletal remains

because when stripped to the core

what remains is bare and raw

 

Were shame to make itself a course,

it would be brittle, burnt and coarse

Its swallowing a chore as the morsels

make their way from gullet to craw

where it sits unbiddable and unshriven

a constant reminder of regret

Author's Note

I'm stuck! Any suggestions as to how to end? I would like to end positively and of course the punctuation needs a lot of work...

Reviews

[hmne100]

Terrible title! To be changed...