i reach to turn the fan off
before i realize
i want to be cold
because in each frost
bite of my tan skin
i can revel in the pain
and base my anger on
the foundation of each prick
my fury at you

why can you not understand
that i do not want to be opened up
and i do not want to be examined
and you do not have a right to my personal
innermost
thoughts
to the happenings of my days
i have not
signed a
contract leasing you
my memories
to gossip over like a story
to taint and twist and disfigure
until i can hardly recognize them
as they stagger out between your teeth

i am a private person
i will not tell you
i do not want to know
(this is my utmost policy)
but you do not understand
how could i not want to know?
oh dear, please world
how could anyone not want to
know everything about all the things
that make anyone that happened anywhere
anytime and what everyone was thinking
and feeling and what all of us are thinking and
feeling
so we can all be masterminds and pull together
all the pieces?
you act as if you hate it and maybe thats why
it digs my nails into my skin
because i know you don't

i am a private person
i will not tell you
i am a private person
i do not want to know