Charity Tooze

A bloody dripping imprint marks her back it glares a hideous red.
Glowing Christian anti-abortionist red. She returns to the mirror to the soap the bleach
the therapist the journal the art.
Scrubbing at the neon tattoo the soul wound so deep gaping full of stones, a road map
into her history a map of degradation victimization and emancipation!

Today the water burns as it pours into the flesh.
The wound split open again steam pommels porcelain hands please wash away
tears flush her face swollen and pregnant with pain.
Collapsing in the solid hands holding her with sterile white arms

A heaping mound
A glowing scar
Revealing red stretch marks
She pulls, pulls at it to get it off
pours the burning bleach
Please fade it away
but yet it announces itself
introducing her as she opens her arms to life
today she took its howling hand
walked into the bathroom
sat in front of the mirror
and made friends
accepted the gruesome crevasse
found art in its character
And surrendered to her past.