anatomy of a body without lies
feet that tell you when to get off them,
legs that say, hey bending me that way will hurt down the road,
hips that tell the world how to treat you.
ears hear that whistle in the dark and say “run,”
vulva that speak of shame.
a uterus that begs him to stop.
arms that say how often they really need to hug,
hands that want credit for the words they create,
ribcage shouts “I’m so tired of protecting this tender heart.”
mouth that stays silent, because in truth no one is listening.
Published by
Dane Lyn
Dane Lyn (they/them) is a neurospicy, genderqueer, disabled, educator, poet, and glitter enthusiast in a love-hate relationship with Los Angeles, where they reside. Dane has an MFA from Lindenwood University, a ridiculous collection of succulents, and four scavenger hunt runner up ribbons. Dane’s work can be seen in Quillkeepers, Gnashing Teeth, Gutslut, and Imposter. Their debut chapbook by bottlecap press, “bubblegum black,” was released in early 2023 with rave reviews from their mom. They are on social media @punkhippypoet.
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