How We Win

You never were

that lost and lonely soul

that fought back, kicking,

that raged and spat

You never were

that desperate, huddled one

that squeezed, eyes shut,

against a tiny crack,

too small to justify,

to big to hide

You’ve always been beloved,

you never needed to atone,

and all the demons

that wrought all kinds of havoc

in your name

must shrivel, powerless

before the truth that you can claim

This is how we win —

soul by soul, to patiently restore.

This is the beginning

to which we now return —

so let it stand,

so let us soar.

©Wendy Mulhern

December 6, 2016