My body is not the enemy.

I will not pull my hair when I see yours or ask my curls to straighten up and act right.
I will not scratch my eyes out because they are not blue or green.
I will not cut off my nose to spite my face because it does not make the point.
I will not hold or change my tongue because others prefer the sound of your voice.

I will not pretend that I am not a safe place to be,
That I am somehow better off dead to myself.
I will not give up on her so easily.
I need not add to the casualties of this war.

I will not pinch my skin and wish that I could trade places with you.
I will not take your side.

My body is not the enemy.

I will not mount a defense.
I will draw no color lines.
Because this is not my battle.
I do not wrestle with flesh and blood.

Instead, I will go inside the temple, this house of praise
And rejoice
Yes, rejoice
That the war is over
That I have made peace with my body, having no desire to fight over yours.