Lizzy Burnam 🐞

I know exactly who I am 
which is to say
I know exactly who I am not. 

I am not the type of person 
who eats unwashed grapes 
out of unbought packages 
at the grocery store. 

I am not the type of woman
who laughs at men’s laughter
or whose power is men’s power. 

I am not the type of human 
who takes for granted 
the clarity of rivers, 
the certainty of winters, 
or the dignity 
of the white horned rhinoceros. 

I am not the type of poet  
who wears her rejection letters 
like thorns on a vine. 

I am not the type of daughter 
who forgets where she came from. 

I am not the type of fighter 
who attacks from behind. 

I am not the type of lover 
who dips her toes before diving. 

I am not the type of grown-up 
too big for those shoes. 

I am not the type of girl 
who waits for a better time. 

I am not the type of fool 
who believes in a better time. 

I am not the type of person  
who won’t burden myself 
with the next few minutes 
to reward myself  
with the rest of my life.