speaking p[l]ainly 

today I reckoned 
the universe conspired against me 
my name it hearkened 
I surrendered to it completely  

claimed territory
over my folds and orifices
inflammatory
conquered even my crevices

pain, this universal, mother tongue 
I learned her well / speak unaccented 

permission to live
with saline drips and surgical tricks
found comfort in love,
and art: tales, poems, and shutter clicks  

therefore, I reasoned
the universe conspired against me 
but never managed 
to break me the way that you broke me