Admission
I’ve been hiding
behind haiku trees
ducking under free verse tents
sliding into concrete closets
cultivating my mastery of procrastination
& self-sabotage – in vain
because these monsters
are in my veins – curious cunning
varicose vicious
torturing my soul with the slow
flickery of fingers
I’ve been hiding because I’m scared of…
(will you think less of me if I admit to)
Everything…
(the monster’s face says: NOT GOOD ENOUGH –
it looks like my face)
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 