he’s come back to us all,

and what should be shocking

is written off as a hideous fact of life.

what he has gone through,

what he had to choose…

none of us could ever know.

and yet,

when we see him coming down the hall

no one can flinch and look away,

because his strength does not make us examine his weakness –

such a bodily curse that cannot be removed without agony! –

but instead,

we honor his strength.