Frayed Khaki's

Rupture the silence with a knock on the jamb
Tell me once more, how beautiful I am
"It doesn't matter," he said, "about your past,"
Falsities spoken through a clever mask
So wait, it's a lie. And it's not what I want
Taunted, misled by his beautiful front
Those perfect khakis, frayed at the ends
But he stood around proudly, just fitting in
Pointing and laughing, telling stories, calling names
I saw your facade but stayed, just the same
Could the tenderness of a child's truth
Reach to the hardened core of you?
No, the snow's dirty. The ground, grassless.
The sky, starless; and me, classless.
The "classless cunt," you said, I recall
I protected you from it, you took no fall
God forbid your true colors be shown to your friends
God forbid they see your khakis, frayed at the ends.

-Cristina Johnson

Whispered Wound

Forever spoken
Never heard again
The wound that rides
a whisper in the wind

Can they see it?
Will they know?
Do I look okay?
Do my scars show?

Who am I kidding?
Of course they see
It's like a disease
spread all over me.

Staring, I know
Their disdain and sneers
So I swing, swing hard
when anyone nears

The smile is pretty
beneath it, is rot
but this mask I wear
is all I've got.

It's all I've mastered
and I'm damn good
Sit still and listen
like a good girl should
 
Walk away quickly
when someone is kind
run, run away
they'll change their mind

There's alternate meaning
to every touch
although you ache for it
Oh so much

Remember the whisper
the wound's still alive
it's in the air
it still survives

Burning an inside
already marred
crisp with rage
with terror, charred

Memories choke me
like swallowing tar
get out, get out!
whoever you are!

Give me my mask
I'll smile a sweet smile
bitterly isolated
all the while

Because I know the truth
It's all a big front
To be perfect, wanted, loved...
To be whatever you want

This skin isn't mine

Lost long before
These chills you give me
I try to ignore

This ache in my chest
When I see your face
This dare to believe
In a different kind of place

My heart pounds
the whisper returns
Run away, Run away!
You're gonna get burned

But I peek through the curtain
and there he stands
Same as always...
same smile, same hands

Same kindness and face
green eyes that care
See beyond what I hide
Is there hope there?