there have been battles inside my chest but I did not dare to fight them

I have attempted

to starve out the demons

but they simply succeeded

in starving me

I have seen my bones

not from X-rays

through my own skin

I have viewed each rib

I have felt the hallow space

where love used to go

and it has pounded

like a drum inside

I have listened

as the lion roar of self disgust

wooed the whimper of hunger

and won

I have heard the warnings

the foolishness of this

and finally instinct took over

I am not still so thin

I have done all these things

yet before you convinced me

I had never

seen my own beauty before