words

[originally posted on sceadugenga.com on August 29, 2020;
modified September 1, 2026]

denise, with black & sick-green
painted nails, rat's nest siouxsie hair
hefted each of her knit long sleeves
showed me her arms, each
etched with words:

"MAGGOT"
"WHORE"
"TRAMP"
"GROTESQUE"

in block letters, thinking
to scare me away
"i'm ugly, on medication &
i cut myself.
see? doesn't that scare you?"
expecting me to make excuses
as to why i had to leave

i smiled sadly, 
not sure how to tell her
i'd share her pain,
if only she'd let me,
having carried the burden
of my own

she drifted away before i might reply,
an ophelia in the weeds

Note: I am taking a short break from posting new material and am tossing out a few older pieces as explained here and here. Thanks for your continuing support.