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Daughter

By Jordan Currie


And so it seems

that violation only brings out her titles

case

after case

after case

daughter

mother

sister

wife


She could have been yours

diligent bones she’s grown out

lived in skin

now hung out on a washing line to dry

blood soaked and stained

gradual mind she owns

bottling racing thoughts

and still,

still a barcode,

still a label making machine

always defined by conjoint marionette strings

tied to grubby fingers

(dance, dance, make her dance)


Violation has made her

seen and

unseen

visible only under correct lighting


Think of the new titles they could apply

to an unseen visible girl!

slut

whore

bitch

asking-for-it-shouldn’t-have-worn-that-should’ve-seen-it-coming

a ghostly temptress


Scroll through the facebook graphics

copied-and-pasted tweets

same old press-and-hold-to-repeat of

“she was somebody’s daughter

mother

sister

wife”

(though not her own)


Abuse

after abuse

after abuse

and she receives

abuse after

violation only brings out the headlines


But she lives in her

she

has built her home

constructed of bone and skin

and mind

and she is her own


You are your own

You have lived,

are living through

the living nightmares

and you are your own.

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