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Verbal Abrasions
Karyn Indursky 12/8/08

I wear your welts
upon my skin
as character flaws
because all you can see
are my squinting eyes
and accusing me of giving
you dirty looks
when simply I'm struggling
to see what you take for granted.

I wear your scars
upon my soul
as I seek for guidance
from God
to deal with your accusations
that you believe are helping,
but are insensitive, inconsiderate, ignorant.

I wear your blood
upon my fabric
of my innermost being
for I bleed within
as you beat with your whip
or what you call a "tongue"
until I can't handle the pain,
but when I lash out
you call me a "bitch"
and tell me to chill.

I wear your criticisms
as a badge
to shine light upon my soul
as I struggle to survive
in a world
that can't see the good I do
or at least attempt
because they're blinded
by my visual impairment.

I wear your blindness
as my own
for my eyes may not work
as well as yours,
but I'm able to see
to more than pupils
into the core of you
and God lends me His
when I fail to see
why you treat me this way
and it makes me wonder
if I'm truly the one
who's truly legally blind
without corrective lenses
or you are.