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Shame stinks

Like fetid, rotten-tooth breath

Like sickness,

Long sickness, that seeps into your skin,

That slowly eats your joy bit by bit 

Until you can't even remember that you're sick

You just drag from place to place,

Dizzy,

Tired,

Stinking.

Shame reeks

Of failure, disappointment,

Disgust

You wear shame like a mask

And make a habit of lowering your face

So none see you wear it

But they smell it

Shame

To say I know shame would be,

In it's own way,

Disingenuous

The cologne of shame has become so normal

I'm afraid I don't even smell it anymore

The only way I know it still clings to me

Is when someone looks at me

And their nostrils flare

And their lips curl

And they try to hide it for pity's sake

But we're so ill-equipped

So unguarded against foul smells

I see it

Baby girl I know shame

It lingers all around me

In some way

I am shame

That is

I am ashamed

And I'm only glad

That you never saw it