You look like the kind of girl
who has lost her sense of standards
who has been pushed down by reality
a little too long.
You look like the kind of girl
who has weathered the wars
of what society has to offer
and come out the other side stronger – maybe.

You seem like someone
who’s been called a bitch with some frequency
and come to own it.
You strike me like a girl
who has been scarred,
victimized,
beaten badly by beer-headed boys
before.

There’s been hurt and harm
and some hearing damage
done to you,
I sense.
You’ve lived a long time
in a short time
and
it appears you’re ready for more
if your damaged heart
will allow any near you.

And
though I recognize so much about you
much that is familiar
much that I understand
the answer to your heart
is beyond me.