Was it because I stood up
to the man in the mirror,
flame remembered me?

Was it because I stopped listening
to the voices?
They were never kind.

Was it because I smiled,
and made joy look effortless?
I told my thoughts to resign.

Or do you simply miss
sipping from the cup
of broken me?

Why take it all away?

Now Piper authors
babel’s dirge—

and you vulgar ibises
take heed!