P H OTO G R A P H S O F H O W I T WA S VS. HOW IT SHOULD’VE BEEN P O E T RY
L am e e s e B a dr
Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse
i am seven a body on top of mine too dark to see i am seven a barbie in my hand and a sleepover is just a sleepover i am eight a hand inside my green skirt this time it is not too dark too see this time it is daylight this time he looks into my eyes asks how the family is i smile i look at where the hand is i don’t ask him to stop i am eight my cousins and i playing in the street and i don’t hate the color green yet my mother in a nightgown an ocean apart from everything she loves her eyes frantic her home burned down a husband still inside and a Saudi policeman telling her to cover up 46
