Relieved

Shell of belayed beast be still
For heard are syllabic hearts
Moisture in their spilling eyes
Lull warm and close your form

Dried the flesh of many days
Be soft in gentle embrace
From far the slip be given
To your warp a weft of beauty

Around those cracks that bleed tears
Renewed with burden uplifted
Let rivers flow from other wounds
Who wise take pain forgotten

Bones of hardened clay lay moulded
For there will come blanketed arms
That smooth those furrowed scars to nothing
And the agonies underlined be forfeit

Heavy shield of stony surface
The cracks are earned in time
Let dust of ash be washed away
By tears from which others can cry

Beneath there hides from strikes and blows
Now taken are your arms
To feel a face that suffered through
And survived alone in despair

But others have watched with knowing gaze
And acted the other front
No longer suspect you are a sole
Your gifts are earned already

Child's grace return with care
And feel again that innocence
The tears have swept away the fear
That only age can harbour

Eyes remember all that gave
As life grew from a seed
Take comfort in such experience
To have lived and still endure

Your litter laid at your feet
Look up and feel the rain
Of open grief and joyous thanks
That you will still remain