“Scars” by A. R. Arthur

Scars denote the phases of my body,

Jagged reminders of the ravages of time,

The decrepitude of a thyroid

and joint problems like an octogenarian,

But oven burns and scalding water left rigid impressions

distinct from the inner turmoil of immune revolt,

Rough and ridged from searing heat laminated

through layers of fast shedding dermis,

Others act to remind me of injustice

and otherworldly ignorance forced onto me,

a child in an adult world of failure,

A foreigner under constant threat,

A second choice and regret.

A.R. Arthur is a Black Mixed-race poet & writer who has spent most of his life in Kuwait jostling between the UK, America and the Netherlands. Anthony’s work has been published over 260 times internationally. Anthony writes for Psychopomp and reads for Harbor Review. Anthony is the EIC of Fahmidan Journal/Publishing & Co and Reviews Editor at Full House Literary.
Twitter/Instagram: @ararthurwriter https://ararthurwriter.wordpress.com/