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
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