There are handprints on my heartbeat,
a few smudges on my veins
from all the people who have touched
my life and left their stains.
Some marks have taught me kindness,
and some scars have taught me love.
Some have shown me all the things
I want to free my heart of.
The stories that they’ve written
span the pages of my pulse,
and the music that they’ve sung to me
is rhyme that calms and lulls.
Some stories hold a sentence
to be summed up in a blot,
while others stretch through paragraphs
(but no more than they ought).
Some people penned a masterpiece
with print that glints in light,
while others scratched with feathers—
they left marks, but they can’t write.
There were hands with jagged fingernails
to wound and watch it bleed,
but there were hands with warmth enough
to plant a flower seed.
There were hands that left my heart
to worlds of lost, abandoned care;
but there were hands that picked it up
despite the deepened scars they share.
I’m hopeful for a handprint
as I meet a smiling face—
I listen for new stories,
and I clear a keepsake place.
I know that each will teach me
more of all I’m meant to learn
and fill the places on my heart
with every scar I’m called to earn.
There’s no room for discontentment
with the marks that come my way,
because each one has a purpose.
What is there is what will stay.
I want my heart to be a home
for every story to be told;
I want the traces that they left
to have a place in every fold.
There are handprints on my heartbeat,
a few smudges on my veins;
and I’m thankful for the hands that touched
my life and left their stains.
Someday when I’m a scrapbook,
I’ll leaf through and understand
why each mark was meant to be there—
and I’ll treasure every hand.
Cindy Green is a forest-wandering, poetry-scribbling stargazer with messy notebooks and messy thoughts. Despite her love for all of God’s creation, sunflowers and stars in particular have a way of sneaking into both her writing and her heart (but you won’t hear her complaining about it). She is an amateur sword-wielder with a Highland-dancing warrior spirit who also writes letters to the moon and considers the sky her best friend. A focused daydreamer, organized pack rat, and oblivious observer, she is a self-professing ambivert (or a living contradiction) who deeply feels both the beauty and fallen state of the world. Through her words, she hopes to describe the indescribable and form personal connections with people while reflecting a love for her Savior and a passion for everything she touches.
I very much love this.
*grins* I’m glad. <3
Wow, Cindy!!! That was so beautiful! Thank you!
Thank you, dear! 🙂
This is absolutely beautiful. You should publish a book of poetry because I would totally buy it. And then buy it again because I’d wear it out in the first week.
I totally agree! Please make one, Cindy!! <3 <3
*hides* ack, you guys.
*whispers*
do!
Your poetry is so amezing Cindy!!
😉
This is so beautiful! I didn’t realize I liked poetry so much until I read some of the poems on this blog.
I especially like this one. 🙂 ♥ Wonderful work!
Ack, I love it when people suddenly discover a love for poetry. 😀 I’m honoured you found it at Story Embers!
That was so lovely. I love hearts and poetry so much and to see them combined somewhere besides my own head made me very happy. ^-^ I loved this so much.
And this makes my heart happy. Aaahhhh 😀
Cindy, stooooop. You keep writing things that make me cry because they’re so pretty and so true, and I second Kate’s request for a volume of your poetry. <3
*grins* Hey, you might get it someday. Who knows?
This is so beautiful, Cindy…it has to be one of my favorites. ❤️ Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
(And you really need to publish a poetry book like Kate said…😉 I would totally buy it…and a couple for my friends and family too!)
*heart is bursting*
I love this to pieces! What a beautiful way to symbolize our interactions in life. I hope I’ve left several happy handprints.
And like everyone else has said, I would totally buy a book of your poetry! Let me know if you ever publish. 🙂
You’ve left a happy one in my life, my poet friend! 🙂
Late to the game but:
*weeps* This is totally amazing and gosh I always love the symbolism in your poetry!! <3 It's beautiful. And I know I'm really totally copying what everyone said, but yes. Make a book. I would buy it so fast. 😀
Oh gosh. You guys are the best. 😀
So, I was reading this and the whole time I was like, “Man, who’s writing could this be? It’s amazing.” And then, of course, I got to the bottom and saw your name and I couldn’t help but grin. You are such a gifted poet, Cindy. Keep doing your thing, girl, and know I am cheering you on. <3 🙂
SARAH! *hug-attacks you* These words mean the world, coming from you. Thanks for everything, love <3