Image credit: Lorraine Yu

Walking around town

with arms outstretched,

G-U-I-L-T

freshly rebranded

across my chest.

I begged to be accepted,

for being the freak,

born too delicate,

in this age of critique.

Seeking for permission,

to disengage

from this life,

of a rat in a cage.

But I walked, and I walked,

and the world remained,

forever and ever

aloof as it deigned.

Onwards it crawled,

and swiftly came ashore,

Leading to nowhere

into nevermore.

These drops of perspiration,

that sting my scarlet letters,

yet never did I need permission,

to bear the legacy

of my ancestors.

But first,

these wounds,

they must heal,

before I get back

on the wagon wheel.

Author Bio: Online language teacher by day; out-of-work theatre performer by night; dazy drifter in between.