Don’t Look

A Poem

Photo by Raamin ka on Unsplash

don’t look —
not now, not ever,
lest my scars be like
neon signs across my skin.

don’t look —
because you won’t like
what you see
and how I break.

don’t look —
and maybe then
we’ll know and find
a different ending.

don’t look —
that’s what I told you,
but you didn’t listen
and heed the warning.

don’t look —
because I’m a monster
hiding in plain sight
and trying not to bleed.

don’t look —
that’s what he said
when he tried to hide
all his lies from me.

don’t look —
I won’t gleam
like glitter
or shine like gold.

but you see the scars,
you taste the poison,
you know the score —
yet you don’t run away.