Appendix: or (The Lullaby

MARK LIANG

[pdf]

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“You suffer from acute psoriasis,

coupled with a genetic predisposition

for acne vulgaris.”

 

like my mother

she  touches my face

turns my hands

caresses my skin: stone

 

 

 to polish, poise.

 

“I would recommend

salicylic acid

with applications of

 

per-ox-sighed.”

I think she’s talking to herself now

In this empty examination room.

 

“

it’s a shame there’ll be scars.”

 

I’m not sure who’s speaking now

My mother or her, my mother and her

their faces blend.

 

“Why do you scratch at --

You

 

          Could have. A scalpel sinks into an incision.

 

 

as her pale hands hover over mine

 

I want to tell her

 

That my flesh sings in

rivulets and

blossoms

 

forms a constellation

of my tiger heart

 

of

ancient wars

breaking

unjustice

injustice

 

human nature dictates:

When given the chance

I will bask in the sun.

 

Never mind the SPF.

 

I wonder as she sighs

if she sighs for  bleach.

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