battered, bruised and chipped apart

but we are solidly rooted

grounded in love..

misshapen – with an unspoken beauty-

an inward badge of hope, courage and strength..

We stand strong

like the statuesque oak tree that weathers the storms –

as it creaks and moans in its’ twists & turns..

we -too- bend to the mighty winds – growing in wisdom, connecting and forming to other branches – until we are so solid – no force can shake us..

standing firm in our twisted stance – we are beauty –

catching the eyes of passersby

sharing feelings of great expectations and desires of hope..