Growing Pains Poem by Rhona McFerran

This act of growing
of being alive
a continual process
internal and external
parts shifting
rearranging, recalibrating
and sometimes causing
unspeakable pain

For spiritual bones
oftentimes grow
too fast for mere flesh
to keep up-
flexing and tearing at
muscles of character
and integrity
stretching thin skin
of ego and personality
to the point of scarring

And although
these growing pains
feel far worse
than any physical hurt
as they're
pushing beyond
perception of limitations-

These growing bones
expand you beyond
your current boundaries
into a fuller presence
up to a higher vantage point
and into the person
you could be