Celebrating Me

Half a century.

When stated like that,

an eternity

seems a single act.

Yet the tragedy

was that many acts

were used to shape me.

Hate filled where love lacked.

Yet, I did not break.

Yes, my soul is bruised

and my heart does ache,

I can get confused,

and scars remind me

it was not a dream.

But I define me,

despite what may seem...