< Issue 6 >
I Am Sorry That Men Have Ruined You
by Elaine Body
I am sorry that men have ruined you.
This message was sent to me after noticing
My profile says, “Gay”.
I do not understand why men assume other men
Have taken me apart and I am now crooked
As if I walk hiding breaths in the heel of my foot
As if I am missing--
Something
For as long as I can remember
I’ve been fascinated by women’s faces
And the suitcases they hide between their teeth
They know better than to be unzipped and open
I am not broken
Or ruined
As you wish to believe
As if you’ll be the man that’ll save me
I know plenty of decent human beings
Men--
But I do not wish to discover them
Ever since I was five years old
Women were something to be looked into
And I’ve always been drawn to
Books that take a while to read
The first time I had sex
There was a girl in my bed
I was 13 years old
And I found my way around just fine
Even then
I knew you had to take your time
Men--
Have not ruined me
I work alongside them
Learning how to understand
The stories we are both trying to read.
I Am Sorry That Men Have Ruined You
by Elaine Body
I am sorry that men have ruined you.
This message was sent to me after noticing
My profile says, “Gay”.
I do not understand why men assume other men
Have taken me apart and I am now crooked
As if I walk hiding breaths in the heel of my foot
As if I am missing--
Something
For as long as I can remember
I’ve been fascinated by women’s faces
And the suitcases they hide between their teeth
They know better than to be unzipped and open
I am not broken
Or ruined
As you wish to believe
As if you’ll be the man that’ll save me
I know plenty of decent human beings
Men--
But I do not wish to discover them
Ever since I was five years old
Women were something to be looked into
And I’ve always been drawn to
Books that take a while to read
The first time I had sex
There was a girl in my bed
I was 13 years old
And I found my way around just fine
Even then
I knew you had to take your time
Men--
Have not ruined me
I work alongside them
Learning how to understand
The stories we are both trying to read.
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