The Life I Deserved
Where is the life I deserved?
Where is the mother who kept me and protected me, braided my hair? Where is the father who sheltered me, who smiled and encouraged my dreams?
Where are the childhood friends who wanted to play with me: pat-a-cake and hopscotch and skipping rope?
Where is the uncertain, awkward thrill of my young, ripening body?
Where are my girlfriends, my gossip circles, my jealous crushes?
Where is my communion dress, my prom dress, my wedding dress?
Where is my husband? Where are the children of my body?
Where are the smiles and tears of my daughter’s wedding?
Where are my grandchildren? Where is my family?
Where are the arms, within which I can comfortably grow old?
These seem like normal, simple things.
Why didn’t I deserve this life, that might have been mine?
More poetry: This is my Body. This is Me., One Evening, Whispered to an Egg.
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