tainted heart when did you appear

were you corrupted by a mere pinch or by the accumulation of punches 

is there a way to fix you or must we always tussle 

for the mind has forgiven the lashings, scratches, the verbal assaults

has even forgiven the punches to the face 

pardoned every kind of abuse

you are distorting the view

the perception of what can be

we understand the beatings nearly drained you

yet you laughed at death and its millionth cut

a bitter survivor beating the rest of us