i bleed

red is the color

of the blood

i bleed

when my veins

cannot contain

my soul

and i draw lines

on my thighs

to release

me

from inside

myself.

red is rose petals

shriveled

left to die

on stones of death

and to say

i do not love you

but i would like you

to think i do.

red is the lipstick

i write on my face with

bite my lips

and hope it

doesn’t stain

my teeth.

red is my passion

i do not know

where to unleash

but it burns

a hole in my chest.

i see red

when i close my eyes

and red when i

awaken

to a red sky

and pools of red blood

that have turned

black.

https://vocal.media/poets/writing-prompt-86el08o0

written for poppy’s color challenge. thank you for the inspiration!