your reputation precedes you -


once thought a galant banner worthy of

flying in the faces of

all those who knew from the first glance

who and what you are. 
 

the smell of you,

your presence,

it all oozes out of you like

sweet salty sweat

during the hottest part of the day. 

 

and once you meet the one you

finally,

honestly,

sincerely,

truly want to stop for,

that's the one that trusts you the least,

because she knows you -

 

has supped at your table,

tasted your wine,

heard all the lines

before you ever uttered them from your lips. 

 

she has been you

and

knows you all too well.  

so well that even now

as you try to figure out how to live life

straight,

making some ill thought mistakes,

and

put it all on the table because

to do less would be to lose her,

your makeover over makes you,

haunted by the spirit of

the reputation that proceeds you because -
 

your reputation still precedes you.