Defensiveness walks into the room
wearing a burlap dress. She likes
to be uncomfortable. She wants you
to know it is, too. She wears a mask
on her face. It looks just like her face.
Defensiveness carries her arms
in front of her, folded like a wall.
She is tall. She wears gloves. She
has lined her dress with lead.
It is hard to believe I didn’t
notice her before, standing as she
does right between us. She is, of course,
quiet. Even with those heavy boots.
She enters unannounced. But
I notice her now, and sometimes
nod her way. She pretends
not to see. I even tell her she’s welcome
to be here, steel shield and all.
She pretends not to hear.
But she’s started to sit in the corner
instead of standing in the center
and I’ve noticed how the room
seems to let in more light.