Within

Sitting poised without apparent blemish,
the unmarred surface of outer skin,
giving no hint of of the interior condition
or the damage inflicted within.

Imagine an apple falling,
causing beneath-the-surface bruising;
words can dig to the inmost core...
hurting, ruining...abusing.

With a few isolated nicks,
the discoloration can be peeled away,
but with repetitive occurrences,
thus begins the mental decay.

Like a worm burrowing into the flesh,
self-doubt rips to the very core;
creating a path of destruction...
then wages the internal war.

Just as in relationships,
apples can become most rotten...
and once a harsh word is slung,
it's not that easily forgotten.

When assessing an inner status,
don't depend on the outward face;
things aren't always what they appear,
and so it goes...
with the...
human...
race.