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I contemplated my tears
& I contemplated Mary Jo’s scars
I contemplated the moon
& I contemplated the stars

I thought about the Indian man at the gas station
The one who told me in his country my name means star

& I contemplated how we all got here
What had brought me sobbing to my knees
& what brought the blade across her wrists
What brought him to a new country

The fear of starting something new
& the overwhelming need for it