Keep Ugly To Yourself Poem by Cassandra Boyd

what do you think?
I want to hear your
malicious gossip?
no,
I do not enjoy hearing you
denigrate.

Nor do I relish the fact
that you like to
demoralize.

don’t judge, don’t patronize,
or criticize me.
I’m not interested.
keep ugly to yourself.

encourage me, don’t discourage me,
mold me, don’t break me,
do not forsake me.
I’m not havin’ it.
keep ugly to yourself.

cultivate, edify,
shift your paradigm.
don’t participate in
defamation
or encourage
mental castration.
as I said...
keep ugly to yourself.