Bound

Beholden.  
 
My exposed,  
vulnerable body
veiled by  
phantom scars  
 
reminiscent of  
time spent  
in a torture chamber
of fraudulent love
 
invisible branding  
still burning my flesh  
Can I ever belong  
to another?  
 
Should my lips  
ever embrace one more,  
how much pain  
will  they taste?  
Does the essence of you  
still linger?  
a spicy warning  
meant to daunt
potential mates.  
 
Can passion ever  
ignite again?  
Or is your memory,  
a flame-retardant?
Prohibiting sparks  
from taking flight.  
 
How many times  
must the moon die  
and rise anew  
Before my body
feels mine,
again?  
belonging to me,  
not you
 
Tell me,
how does one  
lift stains  
wreaked by
the sins  
of another?  
 
Is purification  
possible?  
or must I  
remain
tarnished,  
damaged?  
 
Does deliverance
await?  
Or am I dammed  
to dwell  
in your purgatory?  
Haunted,  
with no discernible escape.  
 
Will anyone
ever see  
beyond  
this tainted soul?  
 
Lovingly run their hands  
across my scars,  
not shamefully covering them
but letting them bleed,
without intimidation  
 
cherishing
the beauty  
underneath  
the flaws
 
Reminding me
of who I was,  
before you...
 
remaining lost  
in bounding doubt,
I wonder...