AUTOPSY

see contusions on the
knuckles here & dirt
beneath the nails as if she
fought against life – against
death – note the lesions on her
wrist bones from the
mind-forged manacles --

observe the
cracked & broken ribs, the
welts of purple on her back,
like those that came from a paint gun where
she was victim of assault from
bad ideas -- see lacerations

round her neck where she was
noosed by the will of others the
blood in her ears from the scolding
of elders the ankles
rubbed raw from the
ball & chain of an
eight-hour job – the
scars on her heart from
early childhood

-- and her brain is
imploded from
too much thought – that is what
ultimately killed her.

-ryn.03.30.04