the walls are crumbled
the windows are smashed
all they show are fragments.
the temple is desecrated
the gold is soiled
the drapes are slashed. you
wonder. you hurricane you
disaster. who has done this
to your precious daughter
she is bruised fruit and
you don’t understand that
she is trying to cut
the infection out of her body
stomach first then legs
then wrists
what makes her do this
who has broken
her splintered her heart
fractured her strength
ruined her innocence
defiled your precious child
disconnected her pink
raw lungs and
stolen the flowers from her
sacred alcoves who has
done this
YOU DID.
father
Emily is a contradiction of city grime and butterflies. She enjoys books, old buildings, cool socks, and obscure history. She would like to thank her family and friends for celebrating her as she uncovers her voice after a long silence.