Longing

These hands of mine

have traced the curves of my body

a million times over,

but the sentiment is lost in the way

your touch leads my soul to dance.

You bring color to this mad world

and I see how the grey sky envies you.

No one can strip me bare

of the filters history has lent me

faster than that wanting look you carry.

Here I stand, naked before you,

proud of the scars I’ve earned. Love me or

hate me, I am not ashamed

of my beauty because I know,

even in innocence,

you can’t help but stare.

-A.e.