Scars

My friends ask me why I refuse to hide my scars,

they tell me the ugly stripes lining my skin,

makes me that much less attractive,

that much less appealing,

and that much less womanly.

But in the face of adversity I smile at them,

I tell them the gleaming medals adorning my skin,

makes me that much more beautiful,

that much more courageous,

and that much more awesome.

My scars are stories penned carefully on my body,

reminders of memories shared with my loves,

each mark a hard earned prize for my efforts,

I've sweated and bled for every single one,

and I won't hide what makes who I am today.