i pulled my sleeves down
to meet a kid today.
i don’t know
if i was protecting her
or protecting me.
i didn’t even hide them
when they were fresh.
so why now?
i never was ashamed
and i never was afraid,
until now,
when i’m supposed to be
a role model.
am i
or not
for hiding
the ghosts
of a past that
i don’t want to be
anybody’s future?