Wednesday, April 29, 2009

THE HAND OUT


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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