us sitting around the table

the scent of bread and beef sifting up to me from 

The plate of hate

Father watching me

his red face that of a bulldog,

A vile vicious cruel one

Telling me

    But 

Who

   Am 

I

(I am the diligent daughter)

(I am a hardworking student)

(I am the girl you see)

the snakes in my body grow

 breaking 

          my veins, 

  my 

        bones  

twisting        

          realigning 

becoming my 

   hair 

and 

   legs

 and 

   arms

and 

      me. 

for a gaze which is not mine

 crows 

to a body

 picking

  tearing

my soft tissues 

like sinew stuck on bones

How I wish I could

shape my face 

cut my body

rip my chest off

peel off my skin to flesh and bone 

so I am a skeleton 

snap my veins till they

  b 

      l

         e

             e

                 d             

out the filth of me

Reshape my body till it belongs back to me

and with my blood stained hands

I will mend my bones 

Reattach my flesh with pins

Sew on my skin

Till I look less than your daughter

So I look the monster you think I am