I Opened Up My Body | Teen Ink

I Opened Up My Body MAG

August 13, 2010
By A.Bekah.Girl GOLD, Menlo Park, California
A.Bekah.Girl GOLD, Menlo Park, California
17 articles 0 photos 29 comments

I pulled all the painted buttons out of their buttonholes.
I stood in front of the mirror so that I could watch.
It hurt a little more than I expected.
I'd never tried to open up myself before.
I watched fingers tugging at my skin.
It slowly pulled apart from the rest of me.
Hanging lifeless at my sides, like an old, misshapen shirt.
I looked at where my heart should have been.
I could feel the familiar thumping when my hand touched my chest.
But what my fingers where touching was something else.
Not an organ, nothing like in the anatomy books.
I wondered if they had ever really opened up a person.
I saw in the mirror a glowing mass of swirling sawdust.
That's what it looked like.
It felt solid to the touch, although my fingers sensed the movement.
I looked to see if I could see my lungs.
They were barely visible.
Streamers of black with a few strings of turquoise, pulsating as I breathed in and out.
It was my stomach confused me.
I thought there would be a lot more to it.
But no, it was just a mass of shining light.
Strange that light can be a solid.
I wondered why the scientists and doctors had separated such a beautiful thing into organs.
I thought to look at my brain, but I hadn't unbuttoned my head.
They had said not to open yourself up too much.
They advised not to do so at all but I had not been able to resist.
I buttoned up my shell again.
The skin took a minute to readjust.
I looked in the mirror and seemed perfectly fine.
To my eyes, at least.

The author's comments:
I'm trying to find myself. I'm not all the way there, but I've begun my journey. I ask you to do the same. What you will find will be beautiful in a strange, unearthly way. I promise.

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This article has 6 comments.


on Aug. 4 2011 at 6:21 pm
xximjustmexx PLATINUM, Oak Forest, Illinois
46 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
There's no god. There's no religion. There's only life, what you do with YOUR life, who YOU let affect YOUR life. Bad things happen to everyone, you just have to learn to deal with them.

i absolutely love the last line I looked in the mirror and seemed perfectly fine. To my eyes at least. That one line sums up the entire poem. Very good.

inkers GOLD said...
on Jul. 16 2011 at 3:57 pm
inkers GOLD, Midland, Texas
10 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
"And the lamplight gloating o'er him threw his shadow on the floor... and my soul from out that shadow... shall be lifted, nevermore!" - Poe

What a gorgeous poem and idea. I could see everything as you saw it. The imagery in this is absolutely stunning, and I just love this. I hope this gets into a book someday. I hope this gets famous. Wonderful job. <3

on Oct. 9 2010 at 10:28 am
wordjunkie BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 105 comments

Favorite Quote:
Those who say it can&#039;t be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

never read anything like it, an i read an abnormal amount of books. this is amazing...

on Oct. 3 2010 at 8:44 pm
Alcanno DIAMOND, Mexia, Texas
59 articles 0 photos 670 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you love life, don&#039;t waste time, for time is what life is<br /> made up of.&quot;<br /> <br /> -- Bruce Lee

This is so original and unique - I've never read anything like it. It really made me think and I LOVE that. Great writing!

on Sep. 18 2010 at 6:22 pm
A.Bekah.Girl GOLD, Menlo Park, California
17 articles 0 photos 29 comments
thanks. to make it feel kind of unfinished, i guess. like there's more. everything else is more definite in comparison...

on Sep. 18 2010 at 6:09 pm
apocalyptigirl BRONZE, Staunton, Virginia
4 articles 2 photos 285 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;DON&#039;T PANIC.&quot; ~from The Hitchhiker&#039;s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

WOW. This was so cool...magical realism and departures from conventional ways of looking at reality are awesome, btw. :) What stood out to me was, Why does every line have a period on the end except for the last? Did you mean to do that, and if so, why?