Battle Scarred
The scars from battle’s fought take a toll. Each handle demons in a different way. A vicious swipe with a cane, or hefty swig of alcohol. A punishing comment, a nervous twitch, all might be seen. A scarred wrist, a stooping posture, a discreet desire. We all tried to conceal them, but fail. Until the bell calls. We enter classrooms. Chalk dust flies as spiders weave webs. Dreams may be broken but life continues.
This Post Has 30 Comments
That sounds like my kind of school
Thank you Neil, there where some moments,
Old school, in many different ways. Nice one Michael.
Thank you Iain,
Dear Michael,
And the worst battle scars are those people can’t see, aren’t they? Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle,
“The show must go on”.
Sad that bad things like battles & wars have had to happen…
Thank you Anita, the complexities in life can be challenging.
Beautiful prose made even more so in its wisdom.
What a lovely thing to say. Thank you
I’ve pondered this to understand and think this is saying that no matter what scars are carried into the classroom, the learning goes on regardless, maybe allows in those moments to leave them behind. Anyway, you made me think!
Encouraging myself as the reader to ponder, is something I appreciate, so I am rather grateful for your feedback. In particular as at the moment I am rather lacking in my ability to comment.
Beautiful writing! Loved your take on the prompt.
Rosemary I am so grateful for you feedback. Particularly as just at the moment I lack that ability myself. I have just come out of hospital after an operation and I am quite tired
Now I’m thinking of various teachers and some of their less than stellar methods.
Good one, Michael.
Thank you for commenting Dale, I was not receptive to an educational system that was not able to understand what I needed.
Chalkdust flies as spiders weave webs, What a lovely line this is. Thank you!
Alicia I am glad that you enjoyed that line. Frustratingly at the moment my own ability to comment is reduced due to tiredness after a brief period in hospital,
Powerful write, Micheal.
Silence in the face of fear.
Isadora
Thank you very much Isadora, I believe that looking beneath the layer of silence can help budding writers
Great piece Michael – and I hope you fully recover soon 🙂
Thank you A J, I am now well on the pathway to recovery.
What a wonderful story, and so beautifully woven.
With all the trauma, tragedy and sadness you can still find the glimmer of hope for a new start.
Today when I was out and about for my daily coffee update, I saw much hope for the future. ‘But’ I fortunately live in a great place. My writing would be so different if I lived elsewhere. My comment back to you really makes me think…
That’s a fascinating collection of things in the photo. Your story took me two reads to “get it”–I think I just wasn’t paying attention the first time through 🙂
Linda, I pruned and pruned this week, perhaps to much. I was thinking about so many people who have featured in my life.
Very evocative, Michael, well done.
Thank you Sandra, my muse was in a reflective place this week.
That’s some hardcore schooling. Maybe we need to bring a little of that back. Maybe not the scars.
It saddens me that sixty years after I finished my schooling, some children still seem to struggle to find their pathway at school