a poem in my pocket

we come needy,
“damaged goods”
in pretty wrapping
eager for relationship
a safe place to unpack
the assortment of our
mismatched baggage
yet we unintentionally
wound each other
with wary words both
spoken and unspoken
gestures misconstrued
whether subconscious
malice or callous
thoughtlessness
we’re here together
with scars and scabs
as we pretend to
search for fresh
bandages even as
we hope for real
healing found only
in true forgiveness.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)