angela chang
university of cincinnati law
twentythree.years
columbus ohio
lost- a father- he almost named me anger
finding- myself
hoping to be a poet when i grow up
learning a new kind of freedom
no praises will emit from these lips
cracked and bleeding from abuse
while you sit throned to your harem
waiting silently for my repentance
i've danced for you too long
my body spent in veiled prostitution
for half-hearted promises and
feigned tears, I'm sorry to you forever
you said, while i tried to hold
tattered flesh together in vain
with a smile for you, still for you
bruises accepted. with one
slap to the face, the world
exploded in true colors
i saw the gaily fluttering curtains
fade to drab, feast turn to dust.
my eyes found nothing but
you desperately constructing
a paper-mache palace...
and no one's yet caught on.
so i no longer cling with broken
fingers, worn nails. i will take
this squandered dignity
and find the space to grow whole.
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