The Lonely

A long time ago, I was a lonely kid.

A long time ago, I was a
lonely kid, building forts and playing
GI Joes in the tall grass. Climbing the
barbed-wire fence to
visit my best friend next door.
I was the lonely child,
playing in the dirt at recess,
rather than the swings or
jump rope like the other girls.
and I was the girl that
no one spoke to cause I was
The Dirty Girl With Lice.

And I grew into the
Lonely Woman,
cutting her limbs and disappearing
behind the locked doors for
months at a time. I was the
lonely woman in long sleeves,
passionate to no end but
quieter and quieter until you
could not reach her.

And now, again, I am the
Lonely, looking at women with
lust in my eye and hating
and fearing all men. Wearing short
sleeves to the fading scars
and answering questions with
a laugh and I lie.

And I am still lonely.