I've nothing but the face of one you'd like to love
but can't bring yourself to look
beyond what you think you see,
what you'd rather believe
what you've always sworn by.

I am more than the width of my back
the skin from my chin
the gravity of my legs.
My character adds up to more
than the number you've
engraved on my chest
burned on my arms
replaced for my face.

I chose not to judge you
by the weight of your sin
by your mass of humanity
by the heft of mistakes;
they remain etched under your
beauty
same ugliness, harder to read.