Ars Poetica: Scratch or Soothe the Soul?

Hola! This poem is part of my Ars Poetica – BlogchatterA2Z 2025 series, where I explore the art of poetry through 26 stanzas, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Every day, a new stanza unfolds, building upon the previous ones intuitively and organically. If you’re just joining in, feel free to read from the beginning or simply dive into today’s reflection on poetry.

Stanza 19 of the Ars Poetica—Scratch or Soothe the Soul?

Some days, I am sorted.
 Most days, I’m a mess.
 Then come those days
 I’m a sorted mess—
 And in the quiet clutter of those hours,
 When I choose to ink the chaos with metaphors,
 I ask:
 Should I scratch,
 Or soothe my soul?

Like the wise ones
 Who urge me to dig deep,
 To bleed through roots
 And heal from where it all began—
 I scratch,
 To name what hurts
 And trace it back to its birth.

Or like that novice counsellor
 Who told me to breathe,
 To begin with soft affirmations,
 And sprinkle my day with light—
 I soothe,
 To keep the dark from devouring me whole.

Will my scars keep you from burning?
 Will my balms dare you to hope again?
 What should I offer—
 A mirror with cracks,
 Or a gentle cloth for your wounds?

(to be continued...)

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