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don't take it personally

by

Linda M. Crate

all these layers, all these masks

they sometimes seem so

unnecessary;

but i am different things to different people

and i am afraid to shift the mask and to reveal

my raw essence of all my truths may make

the people i love most run from me taking with them

all of their love—

i want to live in authenticity,

and yet i understand not everyone deserves

to know every intimate detail of me;

so if i don't invite you into the garden of my heart

don't take it personally—

i guard it fiercely so i can protect

myself from those who would rip apart me

and my dreams just for daring to exist.

Linda M. Crate's poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has ten published chapbooks the latest being: Hecate's Child (Alien Buddha Publishing, November 2021) and three micro-chapbooks Heaven Instead (Origami Poems Project, May 2018), moon mother (Origami Poems Project, March 2020), and & so I believe (Origami Poems Project, April 2021). She is also the author of the novel Phoenix Tears (Czykmate Books, June 2018).

Linda M. Crate
Linda M. Crate
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