I live and I breathe
in these stripes.
curve and shift
stop.
gently.
hold.
the French are so busy
when they have no-one to love
the lovers mock with their
lively excitement.
I remain unnoticed.
my stripes are tight
around my middle and arms
sweating into my skin
curve and shift
stop.
gently.
hold.
some say the stripes do nothing
but hold me back
and no, I cannot speak
but I express myself,
I don't express my words
so the stripes become me.
nobody
needs to notice.
I've nothing to be ashamed
these are not
the stripes of a prisoner.
curve and shift
stop.
gently.
hold.