Many of us are our own worst critics. I dedicate this piece to all of you, in the hope you will stop hurting.

Donor

I would give you
an injection of confidence,
Donate part of my brain
to give you some sense
of your worth -
Immense.

Queue up at the local hall,
let them shove in a tube
and syphon a pint
to give you heart,
A whole bloomin' armful
to keep you from harm.

And, after my biscuit and tea,
let you choose
from a shopping-list
of parts of me.

Bone-marrow, liver, kidneys,
right arm, eye-teeth,
The shirt from my back,
Whatever sacrifice it took
to get you well and on track,
Have the confidence
to be who I know you to be,
The hero everyone but you
can plainly see.

And if I could,
I would give you
corneas, retina, a magic mirror
to hold up every day,
Help you reflect how far
you have come along the way,
And show you the miracle,
incredible but true,
The magic everyone can see
but you.