marble

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.

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Photograph: Getty Images