I love her scars

There are a hundred scars on her body,

some seen, some unseen

Many more are hidden deep in her heart

Silently bleeding without a drop of blood

Each scar tells a story

of the battles fought hard

and many of the meek surrender

They are the imprint of the ink

life has used to leave back memories

Some times she washes them

with the tears in her eyes

and sometimes with the smile

on her face

And yet she is resolute

Unashamedly wearing those jewels

And treading her way

on a path of thorns

• Subodh Gadgil (June 27, 2022)