Burning the ashes

Thoughts by Wilfred M

Time is up for........

The Labels, the layers

The screaming, the bullies

The don't and the can't

The shut up, don't look

The proper, the must

The fakes and the clowns

It's time to clean, remove

Burn the layers, buried the past

Even if I've to cremate pieces of me.

It's time to shatter that magnet of many faces

It's time to find me, to connect

To lay naked with myself

To make love to I (me)

It's time to shine, to blind them

I allowed them to cover me with rubber.

It's time to speak my mind

It's time to be faithful to me

It's time to accept my darkness

It's time to love my crazy, my dark,

my shamed, my raped self.

This poem, Burning the Ashes, seems to capture an intense, transformative journey of self-acceptance, resilience, and liberation from societal expectations. It reads like a personal manifesto from a speaker who is ready to discard the negative labels, trauma, and external expectations that have stifled their authentic self.

In the opening lines, "Time is up for... The Labels, the layers," there's a clear message of breaking free from the limitations others have imposed—the expectations, judgments, and directives that tell them who to be and how to act. These "labels" and "layers" represent the false identities or personas the speaker has had to adopt to survive in a world filled with "bullies," "fakes," and "clowns."

The phrase "Burn the layers, bury the past / Even if I've to cremate pieces of me" powerfully reflects the pain that can come from shedding parts of ourselves that we’ve hidden behind for too long, even if some of those defenses felt essential or even comforting at one point. It’s about leaving behind aspects that no longer serve or reflect the true self, even if doing so requires facing painful memories.

The speaker also addresses self-reconnection, saying, "It's time to find me, to connect / To lay naked with myself / To make love to I (me)." Here, they seek not just to confront their true self but to embrace it fully, with a profound intimacy and self-acceptance. The metaphor of "making love" to oneself conveys a deep, compassionate love for every part of themselves—flaws, traumas, and all.

By the end, the speaker acknowledges their past wounds, including those from their darkest experiences, as they declare: "It's time to love my crazy, my dark, / my shamed, my raped self." These words don’t shy away from painful truths, but rather confront them head-on, refusing to hide or be ashamed any longer. It’s a powerful statement of self-acceptance that speaks to reclaiming one’s power and identity.

Ultimately, Burning the Ashes seems to be about liberation and transformation, shedding the imposed, hurtful labels to reclaim one’s true self—complete with all its darkness and imperfections—and embracing it unapologetically. The poem resonates with the strength that comes from acknowledging one’s struggles and healing through self-love.

WM