A part of me died and she’s not coming back

A poem by Sean Kathryn Bratton

A part of me died and she’s not coming back

A part of me died, imagine that

My armor grew soft, my mask grew weary

Underneath of it all was dark and scary

I showed it my love, I felt the pain

I felt the pain that killed me in ways

Pain I never knew existed, memories I never recalled

I time traveled all the way back, and really went with the fall

Did I have to feel in order to heal

Did I have to face these demons, they all became real

Cut me deep like a knife, I’ll never be the same

Burned me to the ground, just my ashes remain

She’s seen enough, I cried

She’s embraced every ounce of darkness’ touch

Let her be, please

She’s safe now, she’s here with me

As she wails and begs for mercy

I let her somber in all she’s endured

My sweet girl

You are here for so, so much more

This is my promise to you

Hold it tight

Hold it every single fucking night

Who taught you to love this pain?

Who taught you it had to be this way?

You’re safe now, you’re here with me

You’re safe now, put down those memories

Let it go, this battle is below you

Let it go, don’t you know, the magic you’ve been bestowed

Watch as you rise

Watch as you leave this all and touch the sky

Oh sweet girl, if you only knew

You’re brave and resilient, yes they knew too

You’re magic in a bottle, that’s why they threw

Threw their grievances into the light, the light that is you

Oh my dear, and you held on so tight

Pain that was never yours to hold

Pain that a man was too weak to let go

This pain is no longer leaking

I bandaged you up good

This pain was never yours to hold

It was never yours to be understood

But you did it anyway

You transmuted it with your light

A true alchemist, a phoenix in the rising

What a glorious sight

How brave you are, a heroine to say the least

But for now, it’s okay to grieve your deceased

Grieve as you will, but worry not

I have a surprise, and it comes with no ties or knots

Something so graceful, so elegant

So anointed and divine

The you, the one to whom your soul belongs

Has birthed through, and right on fucking time

She’s a Warrior, a Goddess, an Oracle and a Saint

She holds the key and wears the crown

She’ll never be dismayed

She sits the thrown beside her Father

The great I am of all

She is untouchable, a chosen one

And she makes the darkness’ skin crawl