retreating inside

avoiding people

reading writing

listening

to the radio

these few moments

I had

thinking of nothing

looking out over

rooftops of the city

then came a time

feeling no pain

the hurt still there

if no longer throbbing

red raw hot gristle

more a dull grey

scabbed over knot

it was time to say

enough

to get back out there

recognising

if I still felt anything

that was signal

enough

I was alive

to go at it

once more