The body is often conceptualized as a text or language in poetry, with poets using physical attributes as metaphors and directions. This theme is particularly evident in poetry arising from medical experiences. The poem "Nevus" exemplifies this by framing a dermatologist's examination of skin lesions as a recounting of the speaker's childhood. The speaker's body is depicted as a "pink planet" to be charted. Individual moles are personified, possessing their own narratives, like a "small brain" or a pet owner. More concerning moles are linked to the speaker's past experiences, such as bodysurfing and sunburns. When these moles are removed, the embodied memories are lost but not entirely forgotten. The removal of these moles is likened to a fire in a library, altering recorded history. The speaker reflects on the loss of these embodied memories, comparing the past to a "small plume of ash." Ultimately, the poem highlights how physical markers can hold significant personal history.