mother line

may the wounds of the mother line

sour & fester.

may the wounds of the mother line become malignant.

so that they might weep,

the infection

a putrid trophy of this war.

may the wounds of my mother

set me free.

may the wounds of her mother

remind me.

let the wounds leak

let their puss streak my skin wild and untamed

unbound by expectations—

evidence of the intelligence

the cost

the burden

and the bravery of want.