Words trickle down out of the bruised sky
Drown my mouth until I choke on sinuous raindrops like laughter
Spread my arms wide and watch ropes of letters
Inch down my trembling shoulders twine around my biceps
Ingrain themselves into the quivering muscles of my forearms
Breathe the blood-tinged night
Ebony sentences etched knife-edge sharp
Just as deadly

Throw off my cloak of pale clouds
Tilt my chin up to catch the last few scarlet reminders
Crunch sharply between my crackling teeth
Thunder reverberates across my rib cage echoing
Lighting is reflect in my glittering eyes
The words wind themselves tightly around my hips
Drawing reluctant trickles of soul, blending with the rain
I grimace into the bleeding darkness
A scream escapes my tattooed lips

Broken stitches
Ragged hair
Clawed fingertips
Smothered by words

I
Am
Beautiful

Are you?