From green lightning and bits of heartbreak/
From stormy nights and almost car crashes/
From words exchanged with strangers and screams exchanged with lovers

I was Made from scratches on my back
and scrapes on my knees/
From Lyrics to a song and late night meals at Wendy’s

Made of basement tattoos
And crushes that never flourished

I was made from books I hated
and Discussions about the universe over drinks

from tears I’ve cried, over apologies
I meant, and some I didn’t.

When I was born, I came like a crisp sheet of paper
Without any permanent fingerprints on my story.

In my first college writing class I learned to crumble paper before writing
so that it would seem less intimidating to start.

I created myself
By continuing to crumble

And then I wrote.