Tattooed

She had a bruise that she turned into a tattoo.
Her cotton-candied face, no longer packed with ice cubes.
What good is the scar when it resides inside?
She's sick of trying to hide; you can see it in her eyes.
There's no amount of makeup that'll lead to a make-up
and she's runnin' outta patience for excuses to make up.
If she's gonna wear anger it's gonna serve a purpose
and it's gonna be of her design, her message, her courage.
Proof of existence. Validation of experience.
Time to let the world know he wouldn't get away with this.
The shadow on her soul is now the person in the mirror
but the shame's been replaced with an image of perseverance.
Silence: lifted. Appearance: unrestricted.
Gifted with an opportunity to rewrite her narrative.
Putting ink to the page that tells her biggest stories
is her way of reclaiming what he beat out of her history.

16 lines

Best Romance/Love/Relationship

Best Medium-Length Free Verse Poem
Best Dark