RHIANNON BRIGGS

Split my tongue 
down the middle. When I was young I scraped

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the letter S through my teeth. Split my tongue. 
Give me scales. I am learning to grow older now, 

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I am trying to learn. I used to speak with volume
and strength. Where does that go? How do we find it 

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again? I am trying to learn to grow older. 
You can hear it when I speak sometimes— 

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the lisp, I mean. Give me fangs and venom. 
Split my tongue. Listen as I move 

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through dry grass. I am trying. Split my tongue. 
Even then, even now, I was not made to bite.