Tempered Poem by Debra Cranford

I am tempered by the fires of life's lessons
Some learned at my mothers knee
Other lessons I had to live thru
Part of me wishes I was still naive

Sometimes the heart of gold I strive for
Feels more like a shield made of steel
To keep out the pain of remembering
The lessons I was taught so well


Once in a while, it makes me smile
Because, I am just me
Not that shiny woman
I used to think I needed to be
That perfect woman made of fluff
Not a woman hardened by tenacity


I survived everything that I've been thru
Not always knowing when to wait or when to run
Sometimes my hesitation
Made the pain linger on so long
Sometimes I ran much too quickly
Trying to avoid the hurts I thought was to come

The most hurtful regrets I have
The ones that still make me cry
Are the times
I should have stayed and fought for
What I knew was rightfully mine


I forgive everything....
That forgiveness will allow
I work so hard on forgivng myself....
I am working on it even now

The lessons life has taught me
Made me the woman that I am
I was tempered and molded
By my very own two hands
All in all
I am proud of how I am turning out