"Going Full Circle" by Olivia Lathrom

wafts and tendrils of 
thinly veiled truths, 
multiple measures taken 
in case of catastrophe 
that lead to an answer so much
like that of submission and 

apathy 
​
scarred on a canvas so dark it’s almost
unrecognizable as human 
to the point of which a mentality of
likelihood becomes 

unlikely 

to let go of that twisted form 
that technique that critiques only the most
talented of 

artists 
​
killed by their art 
as if their pieces weren’t 
a piece of their scattered soul 
tarnished by probabilities so grand
as to rock the foundation of 
​
reality 
​
so skewed as to offset a mind so
complex that it would 
short circuit should you mention dreaded

normality 
​
by standards of society 
is the only acceptable way to behave
with shaved legs and lengthy hair
that signalizes our 

femininity
​
so toxic that we choke on the pinks
the fabric that hold our breasts 
we must hold close to our hearts
despite our unwillingness to claim our 

gender 

is dead, 
it is a fake separated by 
sex and biology that should never
be a key point of 

influence 
​
begins at the start of all relationships the
instant you came into this world 
and is rejected when the beginning
formations of invading 

thoughts 

that cower under layers of confusion
one could only call it so, 
a confusion so deep that 
symbols nor words, 
not even thoughts themselves, 
could 

describe 

me a fantasy one 
so cheap as to believe I could step directly
into a world of your 

making 

something incredible, 
something moving for all, 
is arguably impossible. 
as pleasing the masses has been
unaccomplished. 
I will join the list of failed attempters
and greet them in the after life 
with a bucket list with
no marks. 
a life lacking purpose,
​a mind with no dreams.

---

Olivia Lathrom is a fourteen-year-old from the depths of the Pacific North West in Washington State.