Born someone, born no one, a debate of the self
Growing into shriveled shoulders and turned in toes
Head hung low, fingernails imprisoned between grinding teeth
Before there was meekness there was pleasurable certainty
Character building with pipe cleaners and googly eyes
Easy to bend, mold, eyes roll back, she’ll never know
Instincts quietly return, my head pulled up, shoulders pushed down
Who I decided I was, first grade journal speaking loud
Spurting out in the cracks between teeth, a forceful leak I can’t stop
Drizzled traits follow me like a snail’s trail
Glistening memories turning into modern moments
When you supposedly know nothing, you know everything, you know me
Located in Hamilton, Ontario, Abbey Rain Hanson is a student at McMaster University, studying English & Cultural Studies and Theatre & Film. She has had the privilege of publishing both fiction and poetry with Arrival Magazine, Inventio, and Hamilton Arts & Letters Magazine. She finds passion in fiction, poetry and scriptwriting; particularly exploring topics of identity, coming of age narratives, and tales of female agency.