they always ask why
why did you leave
give me all the reasons and then they try and tell me
all the reasons I should have changed
to stay
nevermind that I folded and corroded
rusting in my skin ’til you could see the bone
to fit somewhere I didn’t belong anymore
believe me, I tried
I’ve been kneeling my whole life to gods I could never satisfy
shapeshifting
cracking ribs and dislocated limbs
an eye for an eye
but just pulling out mine
all for blood
be less, they said
so I was
but it would never be enough

*I dare you to stay

from my third poetry book, Made of Earth.