scrapnel

it may not be metal or stone

but it tears at us where no one can see

unless they look in our eyes - deep: long

there you will see the severed appendages, the gaping wounds

caused by a more heinous shrapnel

shrapnel of  the heart

shrapnel of the spirit

these cannot come from an unknown combatant, but only from an enemy

you know - or thought you knew.

the healing is hard - how do you stitch up that which you cannot see?  remove that which you cannot feel?

you apply the medications of the heart

listen

care

hear

console

patiently, always patiently.  

For failure to do so will not cause the loss of limb

but worse - it will cause the loss of hope