My Body is An Archive

by Maggie Smith

Peel me open

Like a book

on one of your shelves.

Watch how my skin flips

From page to page

With words inked in blood,

But don’t flinch away

From the pain 

It took to write them.

Don’t even flinch away

From the pain

It took to live them.

Flinch from the pain

Of never seeing them

Read out loud for a crowd, 

But remember

That you have a mouth

That can pass my stories down.

Remember that you have hands

That can write them anew

In the shape of your own tongue. 

Remember that you can

Remember the important things

And teach others the importance of remembering.