Sitting here with my leprosy
exposed
must call “unclean, unclean”
Don’t look at me
Don’t try to see
the mold that is surrounding me
– The sin, The sin –
is all I am
That’s all you see
I stand condemned
Sitting here with my isolation
Don’t look my way
’cause I’m contagious
The disease of me
you think you see
– is hidden –
hiding
underneath
So don’t get close
Just look away
Invisibly I cleanse my stains
I hear the words
with mouths they say:
“Don’t look at her
’cause she’s condemned.”
“The silence is her punishment.”