I see the ending of my child’s face

and know

this is an end complete

a change of path in a labyrinth

from which I turn

and recognize nothing

no step no part

all that once was has altered

even to the cone of iris  [eye?]

depth of color changed.

I did this,

not time, not fate,

I took what poison I could find

as sustenance

and called it adolescence

called it free

and cough and vomit myself up

each night in bathrooms, sidewalks, beds

and pray

“become an angel.”

 

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by Shannon Nissa Bailey Powers