The Pitkin Review. Spring 2015. MFA in Creative Writing. Goddard College.

it must be
that I wear

this body
as a badge
of honor

my medals
on full display
accumulated
during many
many years
of service

but alas

i ache

can’t run
can barely walk
short of breath
can’t sleep
my pulse

racing

my chest

pounding

nerves

throbbing

up and down
the liver
shouts
the gallbladder
excised

the bladder

artificially

slung, naturally
bears down
on a cervix

ovaries

long cut out

such has been the

bleeding

screaming
history

of this
queenly body

bursting through

empire blouses
stretch pants
orthotic shoes

this plus size

smile
hiding

not the sugary
surplus
metabolic
belly

but the

iron
long beaten
heart

time

to tuck away
these medals

slowly

patiently

endearingly

unearth

what’s truly
me

inside