Walking wounded

Walking wounded

They’ve been hurt, they are hurting,
They scowl, they’re foul,

I’ve been hurt, I’m hurtin’…
I growl and prowl,

I reach out, you stretch out.
They hurt me? I hurt back.

Raw war. Roar!
The talons are sharp
The fangs are drawn
Slashes! Bashes!
We claw at each other’s gashes,
Stabs! Jabs!
We pick at each other’s scabs.

There are wounds, holes,
We’re unwhole…unholy.
I crouch, I snarl,
I guard my scars…

Phantom pain…

Haunting, gnawing.

Whispered whimpers.
Impaired, scared.
Cowed, bowed.
Vowed I’d learn to numb…
be dumb.
Silent resignation?
Quiet desperation.

Dejected, rejected.
Objected, ejected
Abject subjects of Wretch

Flawed…Floored…
We are the walking wounded.

I need a healer, a save-r.
A giver, a fill-er.
A lover, a ruler.



Matthew 9:10-13; 35-36
10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.