Baggage Claims

I’m parading around

wearing a costume of myself,

particularly when I’m talking with men.

I think it’s safer that way,

to give them a Manila folder of my personality

to keep on file rather than show them the

directors cut.

I’m wearing my authenticity

planned and plotted,

like a suit of armer.

Never letting anyone behind the curtain.

Every item, every sentence, every casual glance

their way has been sent through TSA before

being shipped to the surface of my being,

searched for unsafe items.

Anything too sharp,

too full,

too heavy,

too fresh,

is thrown out

or sent back down,

never seeing the light of day.

I travel light,

I’ve shrunk my heavy bits down to just 40

pounds or less,

zipped up and packaged for your convenience.

After all, no one

likes

too much baggage.