painted violet // sapphic poetry

what you have done

what did you do to me

i didn't recognise myself.

i set foot on this soil,

curled tight inside myself,

and i thought i would never

recognise myself.

i do not look like her.

what did you do to me

i have been lifted,

arms opened,

and my lips cannot be contained

at the corners;

i look occupied,

thoughts alighting on reflections

this mirror cannot reflect;

sinew looks stronger

than when i arrived,

for this new land

let me run, so i run,

run, run, to you.

what did you do to me

you gave me something new.

coming up behind me,

taking your place

next to me.

i did not used to recognise myself,

but i changed.