RESEARCH POETRY

I want to write of

love, desire, betrayal, despair

Instead I write

In neat clear lines, in perfect grammar

Of defensible data sets.

The passion, joy, fear, pain

A woman who HIV meets

Will never look as straight up and down

As the scientific journals permit.

But this is real life

The words must be shouted

And inspired

And muttered, said.  

Our hope for change

Lies in the story shared

Laid bare.

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