DIAGNOSES AND MISDIAGNOSES (alphabetical, incomplete)
By Kaleigh O’Keefe
adenomyosis. allergic reaction. anxiety. anorexia. astigmatism. bicornuate uterus. bitch. child. child of divorce. chronic. chronic pain. chronic urinary tract infections. common. costochondritis. crazy cunt. cyst. dehydration. depression. drama queen. drug user. drug seeker. dyke. dysmenorrhea. endometriosis. fag. fatigue. fibroadenoma. food poisoning. fungal infection. girl. good kid. growing pains. hysterical. incurable. influenza. interstitial cystitis. lazy. liar. liar. mononucleosis. muscle spasm. nausea. nerve pain. no cure. normal. norovirus. not enough exercise. not enough lube. not enough water. old for her age. onycholysis. overdose. pelvic floor dysfunction. poor kid. post-traumatic stress disorder. premenstrual dysphoric disorder. psychosomatic. septate uterus. shy. side effect. slut. smoker. stress. stress. stress. stress. stress. survivor. teenage girl. teenager. typical. unknown. unknown. unknown. unknown. urinary tract infection. victim. when you are older. when you have children. when you’re dead. woman. woman. you’ll grow out of it.
Kaleigh O’Keefe (they/them) is a gender outlaw and proud union member living in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Their poetry has appeared in Breaking the Chains: a Socialist Perspective on Women’s Liberation, Slamfind, won the PRIDE Poetry Prize in Passengers Journal, and is featured on indie music legend Ceschi’s album Sans Soleil. Kaleigh is a contributor and editor for Liberation News, is a co-founder of Game Over Books, and hosts the First Fridays Youth Open Mic in Jamaica Plain. You can find them at www.kaleighokeefe.com, and on Instagram: @kaleigh.okeefe.poetry @FirstFridaysJP @GameOverBooks.