virgin soil

if you used to spend your lunch breaks
having conversations with the school’s psychologist
instead of with your classmates
I am you

if you used to enjoy
conversations with your literature teacher more
than the ones with the crush who liked sports
I am you

She told you
to understand suffering,
you need to read more Russian literature instead
of all that American coming-of-age
you were offended by that
but that same day you went home
and read Turgenev
(I am you).