a toast

to biggest mistakes

to hardest things faced

stare them down
in memory
unflinchingly
without
looking
away

revisit
the haunted place
watch time
reshape
a burning house of pain

momentarily
feel its' heat and
periodically return to see
hellfire
reduced to
smoldering rubble and
a few
flickering
fading
flames

it may
one day
burn out
but won't ever burn
down

a memorial remains
in cold black ruins
scarring soul's landscape like
healed wounds
on veteran arms
telling tales
of Strength born weak
and Wisdom conceived
in mistake

they grow up
and old
together

they grow
through flames that
flicker and fade
until Strength
and companion
break

break bread
in celebration
raise glasses in toast,
and slowly

drink