for every heart aching
like an open door

for every god peering
through the window

for every journey ending
with the same hobbled crawl

home, with the voice
in the back of the head
like the mother, wailing. 

for every animal confession
splitting the throat wide open—

I CLAWED MY WAY OUT OF THE WOMB
LIKE A MONSTER

I WANTED TO BE LOVED SO DESPERATELY 
THAT MY FINGERS SHOOK WITH IT

I AM NOT BEAUTIFUL
BUT I COULD BE

I AM VOLATILE
VIOLATED
MY BODY WAS NOT
ALWAYS MY OWN

I ONLY LOOK INTO THE MIRROR
TO SEE THE WHITES OF MY EYES