people tell me they love how raw my poems are
but as soon as i step out from behind the keyboard
i’m instantly called a ***** for expressing myself
i’ve been called the ice queen
my father agrees
but my mother only asks when i’ll thaw out
i tell her that ice remains as long as the surroundings are colder
others tell me i have an old soul
maybe i just believe in the things unseen
the things between the lines
the tears behind every poem i write are
unseen and will forever remain behind the scenes

—a run-on poem because it’s 1:52 A.M. and i can’t focus
              —Chanel Tatum