Aglaophotis, or Expulsion
 
here, you will birth a god, a visceral horror
a distortion      destruction         of yourself
this child was              forced       upon you
 
conceived from your trauma conceived by
others begging you        to bear the burden
of pain             inflicted            on so many
 
your body has betrayed you by       creating
an environment for                         godhood
a godchild that will mutilate and consume
 
your body.                   coated in   afterbirth
that godchild will bring  an endless fog,
death                &                  determination
 
unless,             you reject being the host
you have choice clasped around your voice
a choice where you can value your life
 
above that of any god/child

silent hill 2’s abstract daddy is a better metaphor for sexual abuse than i could ever write
 
            & so is the fact that I could never defeat it without help

Ashley Miranda is a latinx poet from Chicago. Her work has been previously featured by the Cotton Xenomorph, Memoir Mixtapes, Witch Craft Mag, MAKE magazine and other publications. She has a forthcoming chapbook, dolores in spanish is pain, dolores in lolita is a girl, from Glass Poetry Press. She tweets impulsive poetry and other musings @dustwhispers.