i create myself anew everyday / every single letter of every single word i omit from my mouth / a new layer of my soul / i feel the stretch of it now / the tug on my heartstrings / the raw pain of reinventing myself / taking a toll on my brain / i split myself apart / rearrange my bones / tear my flesh and skin / until i am nothing but clay / and fit myself / into a mold / pre-approved by everyone i wish to be / i feel as if / i need / to do all of this / because who i am / the very first mold / the prototype / is simply not enough / and now i am reduced / to cinders / but you see / i am not a phoenix / i am just a dead girl walking
YOU ARE READING
I, Girl
Poetryi am my own god, my own spirit, my own prayer. -- a complete series of 44 poems concerning girlhood, dread, and catholic guilt.
