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Aashera Sethi

I No Longer Am


Illustration by Aashera Sethi


I am

An unspoken word, a festering thought

Like the wounds they left on my body,

Like scars in corners of my tarnished mind

That emerge in the sun unsupervised

Roaring cries of mercy, echoing wide


I am

A woman ripe, plucked by hands unkind

An apologetic tale, distress impending.

Does this damsel need rescuing, too?

Coal un-metamorphosed under strain


I am

Newer, stronger, sharper, bolder

I have learned to give myself the gift of gentleness

With soft hands ironing creases.

I have peeled away my anger

To reveal a core of love once concealed

I have learned from my denials, from my exhibitions


I am

Used, but what does it matter?

Swimming in a tasty drowsiness

Oh no, they didn't, did they? Not to me?

The thoughts they left me with swirl in my mouth

And keep my brain company through nights

A brain a sanitary monitor beep

Insisting on absorbing every colour

But leaving behind a listless grey


And now I no longer am



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Shivaay S
Shivaay S
Dec 05, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

👌

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Guest
Dec 05, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Amazing

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