Other People

By Justine C. Tajonera

I walked into the mall
dressed to the nines
and spent ten minutes
worrying about
what other people
might think.

They are phantoms,
really,
from my imagination,
blank faces
painted with expresssions
of my own insecurities.


I, too, am another
person

to them.

Who knows how long
they worried
about dressing up
for me?

(Oct. 17, 2009)