there is a word on my forehead

as though God took a big rubber stamp

and a bright red ink pad

took me by the back of the head to steady me and

pressed it right on

making sure every letter

was permanent

then He let me go.

i wandered around lost for awhile

at first only vaguely aware something was there

i knew very well the looks i received

meant i had a lable i could not see

but the more i squinted at myself in the mirror

the deeper the lines bled together

i knew i was smudged

but was still illiterate.

i woke up to it one day

the world suddenly

all too clear.

and when i looked in the mirror then

reading the word meant now

i could define it

no longer allowing the opposite

turning stigma and shame into

something i can work with.