Dawn & Dusk

I burned and I bled
Was dipped in boiling water
Imprisoned in damp cells
My feet placed in mortar

I felt the stark isolation
Of a darkness ever-deepening
I felt the force of water
Of a tide never retreating

I sang songs of woe
To empty skies at night
Scrawled words of agony
In a place hidden out of sight

I dreamed dreams of wonder
Of achievements my heart desired
I thought that would heal my hurts
But that is not what transpired

But I realised that this pain
Now enriches every moment
Now every time I breathe
I feel a rush of contentment

The pain changed my focus
Opened up my eyes
Helped me see what really matters
Made me to re-prioritise

I was dipped in boiling water
I burned and I bled
But the bottom line is this
I am alive, not dead