Wounded Knight

A poem about how eventually, we protect ourselves from heartbreak and that which we do not want when we have healed from abuse, and save ourselves for that which is for us.

Pixnio

Covering my clay skull
with these threadbare
patches of flesh
Then steadying the
helmet of hindsight
Placing healing salve
on these scorched lungs

Jump starting what
pieces remain of
my heart
so that I can
live life behind
chain mail, metal sheets
and sarcasm

No weapon will
ever penetrate these
barriers again!
Battle scars remain
as does this grizzled veteran
who did nothing more
than try to believe an
open heart would lead
to happiness

No one ever warned
how devastating it can
be when it fails
But alas, this visor
will not raise again
for any man
save the prince
who was promised
to her by
the king who guards
us all

Desiree Batiste is the author of “The Shaping of a Diamond”, a self-published journey through surviving abuse, domestic violence and more told through poems, which is available for purchase on Amazon. Find her on Medium, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or on her website. Desiree Batiste ©2023.

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