Between Bruises & Blooms

Do you always turn
personal questions
into jokes?

Only when the truth
has teeth.

Only when your hands
get too close
to the locked drawer
behind my ribs.

I learned young
that laughter
can change the subject
before anyone notices
you are bleeding.

So I became funny.

Quick enough
to make you laugh
before you could ask
why I flinched.

Sharp enough
to turn concern
back on itself.

You ask me
how I am,

and I hand you
a punchline.

You ask me
what happened,

and suddenly
we are talking
about anything
but me.

It is not that
I have nothing to say.

God,
I have entire graveyards
waiting behind my teeth.

But some truths
feel safer
when dressed as jokes.

Some wounds
would rather be
the reason everyone laughs
than the reason
the room goes quiet.

So go ahead.

Ask me something personal.

I’ll make you smile
until you forget
you were trying
to see me.