Shame
A poem by Holly Payne-Strange

Shame

I want your shame.

I want to hold it close,
treat it gently, like a rare bird,
lost with nowhere to go.

Let me coddle this sweet and delicate part of you,
the part that no other mortal gets to hold,
the deep, dark secrets even you can’t bear to see.

I think you’ll find,
you beautiful creature,
that the best part of you
is not what you did right.

It is the primal chaos
that rears its head,
gloating, “this is me. And this is what I need,
I won’t settle for less,
no matter what you say.”

Give me your selfish parts
and I will give you diamonds.

I know who will be getting the better deal.

About the Author:

Holly Payne-Strange (she/her) is a novelist, poet and podcast creator. Her writing has been lauded by USA Today, LA weekly and The New York Times. She has had her poetry published by various groups  including  Door Is A Jar magazine, In Parenthesis, Dipity Lit Magazine, and will soon be featured in Academy Heart and Red Door, among others. She’d like to thank her wife for all her support.

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