i am made of marble.
i am polished stone, smooth,
unwavering,
a pretty picture of cold perfection.
i am made of marble.
i am marble, made of thrift store fabric
worn with age
lovingly embroidered with sweetgrass and sunflowers
but i am made of marble
and even fragile woven cloth will
not change the fact that
marble is only desirable
on a kitchen counter
and only if dark splotches
fit the buyer’s aesthetic.
i am made of marble
i am marble first,
girl second,
and that is no way to live.
but i am made of marble,
and marble does not get
to have thoughts like that.
Photograph: Getty Images