Little Wounds

by John Herlihy

Little wounds

The micro hurt

The macro effect

That never bleed

Never quite heal

The slight to honor

Being gossiped about

Not being listened to

Worse being ignored

The passing insults

The promise forgotten

A date not remembered

A message left unanswered

A goodbye never returned

A silence lasting too long

An offense never apologized for

Someone else takes your credit

Feeling invisible in the crowd

Not needed as much as you need

Being excluded somehow

Tolerated rather than welcomed

Small enough to allow

Too big to deny

Common enough to normalize

Not deep enough to cry

Little wounds leave no scars,

But as enduring as the stars.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Friday 16 January 2026