Stripped Bare

sometimes,

walking with my head

held high

is just so

damn

hard.

(god knows this head is

heavy, so heavy)

people see me

they let their gaze

wander just a bit

up

and 

down

(two seconds to weigh,

to measure)

I know what they see.

a plump girl

walking tall

chin up

steps firm

short, multi-hued hair

glasses

always crooked

always scratched

(maybe I should take

better care?)

They see tattoos

intricate markings

playing peekaboo

that only hint at 

tiny hidden things

(the true expression of

me, and mine)

they see boots

and black

and there -

just there..

they

STOP.

(stop. full stop. isn't

that just right?)

they miss the lines

by my mouth

that tell the tales

of so many smiles

and laughs

(honestly though, this

is only what I let them see)

they miss that my

hands are rough

from wielding an axe,

but covered in a

softness gained

only by caring for

someone else.

(it's my hardship, my gain,

I shouldn't have to share it)

they take that impression

and look no further

they assume

they decide

and always fall

just a bit short

of My mark.

(mainly.. because I want them to,

I just might be afraid)

Reviews

[Chris]

Assumptions by the barrel... So many really believe they hide when they are open books - pages moving in the breeze. But then again how many really DO look?

[SpitfireGrrrl]

It's always interesting to wonder who does look, and who doesn't... how much you've exposed simply because you tried to hide. Thanks!

[Chris]

welcome

[.]

~ they see much more, sweet one... they see someone who exudes immeasurable warmth and passion... and it frightens them... because they're so busy going to the gym and trying to shape up, that all their passion dies... and the same applies to all things that people do to acquire a trait... which is actually internal and a function of experiences... maybe excruciating ones but ultimately rewarding and enriching ones... you're awesome... and all those cuckoos who can't take that are cuckoos... is all i can say... :P

~ this piece of poetry is superbly narrated... i love the conversation with oneself part of it... it's just so alive and so vibrant... beautifully written... by a beautiful poetess...

[SpitfireGrrrl]

Thank you :) I felt better having gotten it down - then again, fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) that's how most of my words work. Not only to exercise, but to exorcise. Much appreciated!

[.]

~ my privilege... :)

[Jack...]

To see, I mean really see takes an open mind and an open heart. What you see may just be what you get, but not necessarily what you find inside.

people are like a box of Cracker jacks, you never know what the prize is until you look inside.

Very nice and well written piece of poetry here.

[SpitfireGrrrl]

Thank you!

[Distant horizons]

Maybe if we weren't all so quick to judge the book by its cover, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. Sometimes, we're our own worst enemy.

[SpitfireGrrrl]

Very true! Thank you :)

[Distant horizons]

Welcome :-)