speaking to [my shame]

 
you were
just a 3-year-old girl
when your world
inverted

converted
to a bad little girl
when you hurt
your friend

defendant to
your own judgments
no forgiveness
only self-loathing

developing
idiopathic
craniofacial
erythema

melting
off my face in
perspiration and
hesitation

made reservations
in my brain for
shame and then
overdosed

on fear
I am a failure
disappointment
fodder for the gutter

manifested
years over
raise my hand
I have the answer

doesn’t matter
shrink yourself
hide your face
blushing disgrace

inherent
as my parents
neglected and
reinforced

little one
please forgive us
you didn’t know
any better