POETRY BY SEA ELLE

TRIGGER WARNING: ALLUSIONS TO SELF HARM & SEX

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you have to believe
in cherry red lips
and a cigarette after sex,

strip down stand
in front of the mirror
gaze, part your lips.

see how it looks when
you scream, does it flatter
the tissue of the soft palate?

touch scissors to skin
run the blade along
the tips of somewhere sensitive –

wait for the tears to start
pooling in the cradles
of your eyes
​
if it stings
that’s how you know
you’re ready.

Sea Elle is a writer and visual artist from New York. She attended the City University of New York. She now lives in London, England with her husband and two dogs. Her work has been featured in many marvelous places. Find her on twitter @claudrosewrites.