The Ugliest Love
The evolutionary cause and effect of parasitism is difficult to establish.1 It is commonly thought, for instance, that the unique characteristics observed in trypanosomatids2 developed in response to their parasitic lifestyle. However, it has been argued3 that this interpretation arises only from our resistance to divorcing function from its immediate biological context.4 It is entirely possible that the characteristics of interest were present prior to the emergence of parasitic behaviours. To reason a step further, the evolutionary key to parasitism may have originated in these characteristics. That is, the nature and function of the organism came first,5 and its parasitic behaviours were a given result of the collision between its biology and its environment.6 The idea of a predisposition for parasitism is potentially discomforting7 but should come as no surprise.
1 my body, still so young,
is learning how to inhabit,
to be inhabited.
to be under the microscope
is a relief. yes, tell me
where i begin
and where i end,
give me
2 a word that frees me
from my wrongs. i cradle
my skittish ego
in my heart of hearts;
give it a name
so it knows
when to rear its head
and when to lay low.
3 look!
4 my body, still so young,
is taking flight
from yesterday. define me,
bring me back
to tomorrow, and
5 leash my neck
with a perfect circle. bury me
inside myself and
observe beautiful infinities.
time is fate,
fate is love,
6 love is in my body
and all around my body.
lend me grace
7 for i was always
going to sin.