Constellations

My skin reveals its history

Irregular spots of white
Speckled across my shin

A thousand wrinkkly folds
Pulled taut long my elbow

Brown pigmented spots
Forming constellations on a rough canvas

I will show you
The visible tokems
Of my sorrow and joy

I wear them proudly now
No longer ashamed
For they tell the story

Of how I found
Light
In the dark
Strength
Through the mastery of the soul
Peace
In spite of the chaos

No longer fighting an inner battle
Of how I look outside
For what’s inside
Shines more brightly through

The world shall feel
The strength of my inner power

— Jing, 2021