Her memory

 This body has been beaten and bruised 

Cursed and ridiculed 

laughed at and critiqued

underfed and overworked 

overfed and underappreciated

This body has been told more than enough to stick that it does not belong 

That it is not enough 

That it is too much 

This body has learned to feel threatened by the presence of others 

This body has been taught pain 

How do I begin to search for peace in a space that has never known it?

How can I ask this body for the love it has never been shown?