Though sinners’ souls are shriven clear,
the ravished aren’t restored.
The Good News turns to Bad News near
the raped, abused, or whored.
Most kids like me kept mum, for fear
that ill repute would smite us.
But unhealed traumas reappear.
The past comes back to bite us.
Two decades on, I told the dear,
kind man that I adored.
The bits he couldn’t bear to hear
he said could be ignored.
We waited—faithful, chaste, sincere—
for marriage to unite us.
But unhealed traumas reappear.
The past comes back to bite us.
Once wed, we scrimmaged, set to cheer
the moment that we scored,
but childhood trauma’s souvenir
had blocked me like a board.
Halfway through our fourth wed year,
my body ceased to fight us.
But unhealed traumas reappear.
The past comes back to bite us.
Like phosphorus, some harms adhere.
We tidy their detritus,
but unhealed traumas reappear.
The past comes back to bite us.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
