By Mia Hanuska
i want to watch my reflection
to stare at it with affection
i want to look past the skeleton staring back at me
and see a mind with natural beauty
i want a soul adorned in orchids
despite the signs warning “not for kids”
i want to see beauty in my fragility
to find strength in my acceptability
i want to rip off the striped shirt and suspenders
and discover my real defenders
i want a life worthy of orchids
so i fight to stay in this orbit