'the white dress you gave me' by Ava Hope

Photo credit to Samantha Gades on Unsplash.

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Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Ava Hope on my blog! She is a fellow poet and friend of mine, and the two of us decided to do a poem swap on our websites. You can read my poem and learn more about Ava at avahopeauthor.com, but until then, enjoy her piece!

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that white dress you gave me

you found me in the ashes 

not of a fire pit but a hellscape 

burned 

bleeding 

naked 

disfigured 

untouchable 

I reeked of hatred and of garbage 

I struck you 

I cursed you 

I spat on you 

I screamed for fear of the abuse I would receive in return 

but you kissed me 

so I grew very still 

and I wondered who you were 

that you would be so kind 

I showered you with ashes 

I told you to leave 

I constructed a wall between us 

I screamed for fear of never getting to experience such an act of affection again 

but you reached out to embrace me 

so I wept 

and I wondered who you were 

that you would be so tender 

I kicked 

I writhed 

I despised myself 

I screamed for fear of you pushing me away because I was dirty beyond redemption 

but you took me home to wash me and gave me a white dress to put on 

so I stared in shock

and I wondered who you were 

that you would see my ugliness and make me beautiful 

I fingered the fabric 

I looked in the mirror 

I saw someone redeemed 

I screamed for fear that this was all an illusion 

but you asked me to dance 

so I let you take my hand 

and I wondered who you were 

that you would rescue me from the ashes to call me your own