Pain

Finally, one day

I stopped running

turned back
looked into her eyes

said, here, take me

I am  yours.

Pain smiled and

embraced me into

her fiery garment.
burning in agony

each pore glowed

incandescent.

Pain's midwifery

rebirthed me

clean, shining, forever

exorcised of shadows.
I knew then why 

women touch death

to become mothers.

The well kept secret 

of pain's sisterhood

with joy.