Bruised

Bruises are discolourations of the skin,
Bruises physical and bruises within.
Bruises resulting from a body knock,
Bruises inside from an emotional shock.

Things in life go wrong, leave a bruise,
Sometimes from the pathways we choose;
At others it's different, it's set apart,
Then we can have a bruise of the heart.

When a pathway has led us the wrong way,
When we have said what we shouldn't say,
A word, a look, an act, a time or place,
Some bruises are the kind you can never erase.

Bruises dark blue-black, turning to yellow,
Bruises whisper-soft, but some simply bellow
To tell the tale of a slap, punch or misuse,
Even at times reveal ill-treatment, abuse.

Bruised as a result of a hard day's toil,
Bruised if we've become the perfect foil
For others to hide behind, believe they're excused,
When they are the cause of us being bruised.