by Karen Garrison
touch me
i’m not beautiful
i’m not smooth
i’m not open
touch me
i am stiff
i ache
i am bent
touch me
i have an attitude
i have adipose
i have been abused
touch me
i am deathly gray
i’m unshaven
i am afraid
touch me
i am so uncertain
i need a fix
i lost my dreams
touch me
my hands are rough
my bones protrude
my skin sags
touch me
i cannot pay
i have no gratitude
i have been betrayed
touch me
don’t look
past me
today
Karen Garrison is a writer, certified massage therapist, and former clinical social worke. She lives in Colorado and goes hiking as often as possible. She worked with homeless people on and off through her career as a social worker.
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