she gave
the very flesh off her back
and it was her demise
Esther L. Krenzin

some of us are born
with a brokenness
that warps spines
thins blood
and harbors diseases
even the doctors cant diagnose.
Esther L. Krenzin

i treat you this way
because i cant afford to acknowledge your pain
if i did
i'd have to acknowledge my own.
Esther L. Krenzin

im too young
to be this broken
im too young
to feel this old
Esther L. Krenzin

they nod their head
as if they understand
but don't fool with me
your eyes are glazed
and the notes that you are scribbling
cant measure the pain ive felt
i pull out the symptoms from clenched teeth
legs swinging in the air
on and on
an endless list
you grow restless
and when i open my mouth to continue
you walk out the door
that's when i realize
even the doctors don't know what to do with me
Esther L. Krenzin

there is a door at the foot of my ribcage
that says "do not enter"
yet they knock anyways
inviting themselves into my home
only to leave
when they've seen enough.
Esther L. Krenzin

don't expect me to be easy
theres a fire in my gut
and i wont put it out
for the likes of
y
o
  u

Esther L. Krenzin