plastic

I smiled my plastic smile

while the words falling from you struck me

heavy, bruising, cutting

their sharp truths exposing my shame

ripping through the flimsy cloak that was my only shield

breaking down the lies

I told myself

to make it okay

to make it go away

“just for now, until things get better”

I told myself

Bitter lies--for that’s what they were--

burning my mouth...

Lies become truth, break from the truth,

break if the truth is stronger that I....

Nothing’s changed

things didn’t get better

and I hear the betrayed whisper

“I didn’t make things better”

now my disgrace

pierced in this rightful punishment

ruthlessly wielded

piling around me like stones from another time

or place

(I don’t raise my hands--

I have no defense)

until I am buried under my Shame.

Copyright 2010, by Koreen W. Naugler. All rights reserved.