I am a full human myself—
but 70% water,
27% copy of two genomes.

One is happy but broken.
The other, strong but alone.

I have what they have.

I can't change my waist, my height, my woes.
I can't change this double chin, fragile temper,
fighting then crying, then not speaking at all.
I can't change leaving people,
body hair, my strong soul.
I can't change martyrdom, screams, my nose.
I can't change reading people, my honesty,
my devotion, my cause.
I can't change the beliefs
enshrouded in my eyes,
engraved in my bones.

And the rest 3% is bacteria.

But—
I am a full human myself.

I cracked open my chest in front of the mirror

Dug around for the light switch

I found your sweater thrown over one of my ribs

and a note you had left on my heart in sharpie

‘I was here’

Though, i know you meant ‘will always be’

holding little sewing pins
to flag and label
the delicate nerves
of reminiscence
and the friable folds
of understanding
we always stand here
put on spot
to answer, to name
what is laid before us
all its pieces and parts
and we always struggle
searching other eyes
to find a sense of comfort
that no one here
feels entirely sure
of how to go about it

There once was a woman from Seoul
Who swallowed an octopus whole:
     It swam in her belly
     With fishes of jelly,
Then plopped in a porcelain bowl.

i relate in body parts,
because my words fall short of hearts.

i relate, in knowing we both have twelve pairs of ribs,
the same way you and i have the curve to our hips.

i relate, in knowing your ulna runs down my radius,
the same way my thumb runs down your humerus.

i relate, in knowing how our teeth align,
the same way you compliment my design.

so i nest my mandibula,
in the crevice of your scapula,
set my rhythm to the countdown of your vertebra.

i relate, in knowing a pair of lips doesn't make two,
not unless they meet as me and you.

There once was a sneezer named Rose
Who'd sneeze to the tips of her toes:
    She once sneezed so heinous
    She puked out her ****
And blew out her brains through her nose.

Alot o ****
spe akstot
hehe art
**** hi sh
ere poe
m hwisp
ers sweetno
things to
thee lbo
w.