Carved in Braille

 

I’ve got a nest of scars on my upper left arm
that I cannot fly away from
an indelible reminder across my wrist
that won’t let me forget how close I came,
or how far I’ve come
not all my tattoos were written in ink
but they each tell a story–they each tell the truth
gently read my scars like braille
and understand
my flesh is just a canvas for my emotions
a self-inflicted surgery that may seem elective
but I bleed to survive

***

Bekah Steimel is a poet aspiring to be a better poet. She lives in St. Louis, MO and can be found online at bekahsteimel.com and followed on Twitter and Instagram @BekahSteimel. In addition to poetry, she is also working on a novella that explores the themes of love and loss.