Narcissus

written By

I wanted her
to step away from the pond.
Less Narcissus,
more nurturer.

She called me a whore
before she called me victim—
never survivor.

I wanted my mother to love me
like she loved the man who raped me,
like she loved her next drink,
her own reflection,
the sound of her own voice.

Instead,
she stayed at the water’s edge,
kissing her own reflection
while I drowned
in the ripples.

  • Mecca M. Miles is a queer writer and spoken word poet from San Antonio, Texas. Her work has appeared in such publications as The Texas Bards Anthology, When the River Speaks, Voices de la Luna, Voices Along the River, and has been featured on Button Poetry. She has competed nationwide, taking 8th in Florida at the Exit 36 Slam in 2023, and 8th in Dallas, TX at the Right to Write Slam in 2024. She has featured at a number of local venues and is the 2024/2025 Poetry Grand Slam Champion of San Antonio, TX.

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