"Embitterment"

Some experiences adjust our vision

while scarring the heart

shattering illusions

and removing rose-colored glasses

that made wrong appear right

or turned red flags into greenlights

altering our views of the world

or even ourselves

We accept the lessons learned

but deny ourselves grace to mourn

burying raw emotion

beneath toughness

to self-protect

and move on

because … life goes on

But when pain remains unhealed

it festers below

as we seem unaffected

or hardened to the core

when in reality

we yearn to love and be loved like before

back when our hearts were warmer

beating to sweet rhythms and melody

as we danced

and bonded over compatibility

then warmth cooled

sweetness soured

and the dance floor scattered

replacing closeness with distance

and in worst cases

games of war in spaces

that were made for love and joy

© 2026 Abiola Sholanke. All rights reserved.