Turning Toward
“The scars will always mark me; that much now I understand. / But maybe peace means learning how to hold a wounded hand.”
Some poems aren’t written from clarity. They’re written from surrender. *Turning Toward* is one of those poems — not born of answers, but from the exhaustion of pretending to have them. In this piece, the poet turns inward, not with shame, but with gentleness. The poem traces the journey from denial to truth, from running to resting. It doesn't try to fix pain — it simply stops avoiding it. And in that stillness, a new kind of strength appears: the courage to hold one’s own trembling hand. What makes this poem resonate is its honesty. There's no promise of healing, only a willingness to remain. And that is its power. It gives voice to those who are tired of surviving through silence. It offers rest — not escape. Breath — not resolution. A different kind of victory. For those who’ve tried to outrun themselves… and are now ready to turn around and offer love instead — this poem is for you. For the quiet strength that comes when we finally stop fleeing, and begin to stay. Read the full poem and analysis tomorrow 03.11.2025: https://alkonda.com/2025/11/03/the-poem-of-the-day-22/© Al Konda · The Poetry Elite