Juan Chemes
Preexistent
Today, I thanked every
single piece of flesh
and blood that
you’ve dubbed
a pre-existent
condition.
I praised my blood
my brain cells
my nut, my T-cells
my everything
for pre-existing.
And I assure them
that we will still exist,
long after your
diatribes, your
caprices, long after
you cease to be
this joke, this mistake,
this popular anathema.
Just take it all,
leave us nothing.
but leave
us all.
We’ll still be here
pre-existing
questing
flowing
loving
nutting
and resowing.
Orwellian times
pre-existed us.
Juan Chemes has previously published a poem for the What Rough Beast series. He is currently writing a thesis for his MFA in creative writing at Adelphi University in New York City.
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