no gods no masters

maxana quinn

scraped knees. we bruise

& call it faith.

i am full

of what i’ve done

& what’s been done to me.

i feel ugly in my bed.

i feel ugly in the lamplight.

it’s too late to change

my dress.

i’m the main character

when i go to the movies alone

or sweep up crushed moths.

i am disposable

when i tell the truth.

everything here

is hard, bright, violent. flesh

is torn everyday,

but we cry each time.

a friend wrote me to say love is given & given

& that is enough.

i want to see beyond fear.

i want to look at the world with love.

i don’t want you to hold your breath.

it’s a terrible sound.

maxana quinn is a poet & photographer in tempe, arizona. her current aspiration is to reach level 255 on pocket frogs.