by Lena Ho

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If I take a grain of sand
And steal it from a heap
Away from a mountain
That hum the stars to sleep
Is it still a heap?

If I take a drop of water
And steal it from the ocean
Away from an eternal embrace
That sways in inevitable motion
Is it still the ocean?

If you steal a beat of my heart
And hide it from the beautiful I
Leave me a barren field
Where my birds cannot fly

Am I still I?

At what point am I not me?
Is it when time colors the hair on my head?
Is it when my blood no longer runs red?
Or is when I am trapped in your blanket
Losing myself with each thread
At what point am I not me?

Will I still be
After all the grief?
Will I still be
After I’ve grown young
And grown old
And lost all my teeth?

Is death when I cease to be?
Or is it when I forget my own name,
Or I forget to say hello
To the ones who say hello to me

If I steal a beat of your heart
Never set it free
When do I have all of you
And when have I lost all of me?

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© Lena Ho

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Lena Ho (she/her) is a high school senior from Georgia. She grew up reading books instead of playing outside and has translated that into a love for writing. In her free time, she likes learning about cultures around the world.

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