“Is that a birthmark?”
You’ve kissed every shade of melanin on my body.
And never wondered why a hue was born.
Until now.
Curiosity is flattering
After all, desire is the dream of knowing
The dream of knowing love
The dream of knowing a lover
As far as you know now, every spot on my body was completed at conception
A divine design unmarred by clumsy falls and cruel hands.
So, I hesitate.
Not wanting to shatter perfection.
Perception.
My skin collects memories of pain in pigment
I am at my core, a nostalgic being
These markings are curated on my surface
Like masterpieces of a gallery
Viewed but never known
But as a creator of art
The maker of my marks
I owe my audience truth
“No, It’s a scar”
Honesty is blissful in our world
Laying in your arms
The birth of the scar delivered from my memory
Transferred from my skin to your mind
By your fingertips
Caressing the outline of my creation.
J.S. CLARK (she/her) is an essayist and poet known for powerful explorations of vulnerability, love, growth, trust, and resistance. As a queer Black Brazilian-American writer, her intersectional identities deeply influence her work which seamlessly blends personal and collective experiences. Clark’s essays and poetry offer raw honesty and profound introspection, capturing the complexities of human relationships, framing sensitivity as a strength, telling stories of truth, and highlighting the transformative power of love. Her unique style and perspective make her a refreshing new face in contemporary literature, inspiring and connecting with diverse audiences through her compelling literary voice.
the Decolonial Passage 