BATTLE SCARS

Those ravishes of time
wear them with pride

Those war wounds
from the battles of life

The wrinkles and sags
worn like so many scars

Each one telling the tale
of accomplishments and defeats

Your disappointments and triumphs
where you went and where you should never have gone

Those are the imprints of rivers crossed
and mountains climbed

The tracks of tears shed running parallel
with furrows of laughter

Those eyes now blurry
have seen love come and love depart

So look deep into the mirror
to read the map of your well traveled life

And wear those battle scars with pride
as you approach trail's end

For you are a soldier of survival

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