Marilyn Johnson Quote

Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance,face the flag and suddenly clutch your left claviclebecause you find a tender puff of breastwhere yesterday your heart wasOr maybe it happens later when you're walking homefrom school and they rush you on the street--those boys who reach out fast, disgrace your blousewith rubs of dirt, their laughterstinging hot against your face.And you bite your rage, swallow your tearsbecause the fact is, your territory's up for grabsand somehow it's your own damned fault.And one day you stand at your mirrorarmed with jars and razor blades against the scentsand grasses of your shameless bleeding body,and you see what you've become--a freakmanufactured to disguise the real one,the one who sometimes still recalls your innocence,the time before you became a dirty joke.And maybe it begins to end the dayyou try against the odds to love yourself again.Even though you know the worst thingyou can call someone is cunt,you try to love the flesh and fur you are,that convoluted, prehistoric flower,