Weakness

You offered

Your sympathy, supersaturated syrup,

Poison to flesh imbued over years

With self reliance, self dependence, self

Pity, so if I cringe

At the self inflicted idea

That I am somehow weaker, that I cannot

Fix my own problems without salt stains

Down wet cheeks, I’m sorry, thank you

For asking but I will recover, I will not make this mistake again,

I cannot be another girl begging for help from stronger men,

As my body betrays me, the one that shakes

With surprised fear while you keep walking,

The treasonous weakness of my skin amongst the cold,

Submitting to the elements, or sordid exhaustion,

I cannot prevent these involuntary

Reactions that destroy cautiously created

Independence, the way I cannot reach

My sparring partner, practicing karate with

A man six feet two, I take an extra step, punch

With inconsequential force, the teacher nods assent,

My incomparable strength

Is not my fault,

It’s in my nature.