Stranger

What if you had known me long ago?

Now, I am scarred 

With wounds of trauma

Shatters of abuse and drama

Floundering guilt and shame

Pain of grief

Walked through the hell 

Lost in whirlwind of emotions

What if you had known me long ago?

When I laughed silly and loudly 

Smelled the fallen flowers

Painted a house next to a gorge

Because why not?

Spoke of dreams like real

Cantering away joyously

In the moment mojo 

What if you had known me long ago?

I recall the bruised wounds

Nursing them carefully

With love, nurture 

Poetry and coffee 

Brave strong courageous

Is what, people called me

Curve of your smile

Is the grace they said 

Who was I?

Before 

I knew the battlefield

Before

I knew I was walking on mines

Before 

The wounds were inflicted

Before 

Words became poetry

Before

I realised to live is to survive 

The ways of this world 

What if you had known me long ago

When there were no wounds

When there were raw wounds 

When there were scars

Some healed some not 

When there was no poetry

No words or rhyme 

When there were no tears

Just the tranquil silence

Would you love me then 

Would you love me now 

Am I a stranger now or then ?