Zemira

The inside of everyone is two things:

Beautiful, like a flower in the woods.

And ugly, like the wars we choose to fight.

Yet, can't we find beauty in ugliness and ugliness in beauty?

They taught us not to be loud

when something hurt.

To swallow the ache

like it was rude to mention.

We learned how to nod

while breaking.

How to laugh

with our ribs caving in.

What are we made of?

Flesh. Bones. Nerves. Muscle.

We are a cacophony of carrion all bundled together, 

Seen as holy,

Seen as beautiful.