in 1868 they sewed 'freak' across her chest
she was the ant of the food chain
it was a contest for them,
who could smother her the hardest

in 1878 they ravaged her
they were the crows
and she was a worm
they won
she came home with purple eyes
and a smothered heart

in 1888 they sat on hard sofas
frown lines permanent
they worked, the years of past were coming of age
she was a trophy
in their finest efforts

and she
cocooned with her published memoir
counted her wealth
overwhelmed with glee
she had a mended heart
not a trace of a scar
and she was alive
and simply *free