i searched for invaders
and found them in my ribs
parasitic imposters
of a younger skin 

i summon them
one by one
with blood 
dry under my nails

bring me your laurels
your indices
your overachieving little altars

bring me the praise
you swallowed whole
the notification you knelt for 

bring me the room
you conquered
and the apology
restrained behind your teeth

bare your marrow-deep falsities
stand in unadorned self-reproach
no cauterized confession
no disinfecting applause

witness the wound
learning to sparkle

i will fuse my severed self
kiln-fired to a gleam
shimmering sinew

now 
tell me again
what i am not