calluses

playing cello
for hours every day
until my fingers
would blister and bleed
my youthful hands
with such soft fingertips
with every press
against the string
slip slide pluck
rip tear and sting
fuck!
it hurt like hell
if it didn’t produce
such a beautiful sound
I would have smashed my cello
into the ground
but instead
I just played
through the pain
years of abuse
wax and wane

until one day
I didn’t hurt anymore
callused skin
no longer thin
but now rough and tough
worn and torn
broke down
raw
so I turned it around
and it was war!
Cause I’ve been through this shit
too many times before
to just run away
and stay
full of fear
I can play music
but I can’t play
like I’m okay
when I’m not
so…I faced life and said
“give me what you got”
be careful what you ask for
or demand
cause life sometimes
has got the upper hand
but after years of low
after I’ve taken every blow
another cut with your knife
another sucker punch you throw
only goes to show
that I’m still here
and
just so you know
if you want me to fight
then you want me to win
so I’ll roll up my sleeves
once again…

Let the games begin