fade ward - Loss and Gain

It's like the shedding of skin,
Through a frightful din.
You can emerge more caring, stronger, bolder,
Or sadder, much weaker, and certainly colder.

You can face love, care, the arms of a mate,
Or looks, burns, the fires of hate.
I feel the twinges of pain,
Through this loss and gain.

Stripped raw, feeling unhuman,
Then suddenly better, bright future loomin'
I lost respect, care, the regard of friends,
But I'll make it, I'm just keeping with the trends.

I gained new friends, new respect, new skills,
And I'm happy for that, the many thrills.
One thing I know, through loss and gain,
Is the remembrance, bringing forth pain.

Hated by few, liked by some,
Getting dirty looks, bright ones to come,
How I feel now, will keep me sane,
I survived and grew stronger, through this loss and gain.

fade ward

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/loss-and-gain-3/