she hides them
but they peek anyway
she paints them
but they peel away
she looks at them hard
when she’s alone
she relives those stories
that have long gone
she distances herself
from the world so piercing
she worries she’ll be judged
reduced to mockery
she aches to be sans them
she longs to be spared
is that too much to ask for
to be left unscathed?
she knows not
they don’t make her weak
nor do they leave her bared
she sees not they make her shine
those scars, just like stars
Asha Seth 