Broken Toys

From a tender age I was broken
Broken but too young to know it
It started with making sense of insanity
Insanity’s reign in my book was writ

Each place I turned the normal paled
Paled against the twisted paths
Paths alluring they were for me
Me led to bumbling, tortured aftermaths

Vicious circles ever twining, looping
Looping spirals formed not born
Born not from celestial grace
Graced with demon’s horns

Seeking shelter, found its shadow
Shadow’s cold comfort at a price
Price degraded core of worth
Worth less with each tattered vice

Heard one day about a lady
Lady light, with shining smile
Smile of grace, angel in skin
Skin that asked, come sit awhile

She asked we, me and others damaged
Damaged, starting life as broken
Broken toys with missing pieces
Pieces to find, to repair, in voice soft spoken

Shy smiles, many tears, as we learned
Learned the spell we’d been under
Understood eagle’s wings could carry
Carry us to lasting shelter – grace’s wonder.

We gather in a place of trust each week
Weak, but growing ever stronger
Stronger under God’s unwavering promise
Promise of being broken toys no longer.

This poem is dedicated to my mentor and to everyone who has been broken by sexual abuse and/or exploitation.  If you haven’t had an opportunity to deconstruct your own victimization, I would heartily encourage you to seek out information and support to do it.  It can make a world of difference in calming the storm.

image:  Old Forgotten Broken Toys by Aleksandr Volkov

Morgan Dragonwillow (and today’s co-host, Michele Vecchito) is the host of OctPoWriMo.  Michele says:
Tackle today’s prompt from any angle. What was broken and how did you deal with the aftermath? 
Word Prompts:
broken
whole
heavy
accepting darkness
embracing light
strength
Suggested Form:
Loop Poetry