Tides of Pain

I once had a conversation,
With a very dear friend of mine.
And I asked her if wounds heal,
Or if they deepen over time.

With the eyes of understanding,
And a smile meant for me,
She said of all life's tides and currents,
Pain's an ever-changing sea.

And when the tides of pain come in,
We feel we're going to drown.
Our feet barely scrape the earthy bottom,
Giving us a taste of the ground.

But most times pain is brutal,
And beats you to the sand.
Then drags you back for another strike,
Like a cold, strong, watery hand.

Sometimes sorrow's subtle,
Like teardrops down your throat.
Slowly pooling around your feet,
Swiftly sinking your boat.

Yet, when the tides of pain withdraw,
We suck in a breathe of clear, fresh, air.
Realizing what life's really about,
Realizing why we care.