Bleeding Lips

Perhaps lip biting is simply a bad habit. Perhaps even this simple action has significance, purpose, and depth.

I carry these bleeding lips upon my face

and let them drip their red.

Scarlet, not with youthful glow,

but with a color, dead.

Unkissable, the way I turned myself,

by chewing in these cracks.

Leaving these things lifeless 

through the skin that lacks.

Avert your eyes and stay

far away from here.

These castle wall I have

are meant for you to fear.

The blood is a final warning

for you to stay away.

The blood is a constant punishment

for my guilt to always stay.

Perhaps one day, one will come 

from the crowds I've seen

and take their precious snow-white cloth

to wipe my lips clean. 

Author's Note

Unkissable is probably not a real word, but it made much more sense to use this word when I had written the original unrevised version.

Reviews

[cilla]

Biting one's lips is usually a sign of anxiety or stress but here there is a sense of self-loathing and a symbol of warning. Maybe "Unkissable" is not a word (think it is now!) but everyone gets the meaning. But what is the great sin of this young Miss? What great guilt does she feel that she must surround herself with castle walls? I think it is more of a case of how she thinks the world sees her and she protects herself from harm by making herself undesirable. And with a nice twist, waits for the one "with the precious snow white cloth to wipe her lips clean"

How much your work has progressed! This is a wonderful little gem. Kudos to you.

[Androglossia]

Interesting pov you have here. Lip biting is a not too common thing that a lot of people consciously or unconsciously do. They say poeple tend to do it when they experience unlikely situations in their lives to relieve themselves from the sadness and axiety. Your poem in the other hand speaks of holding back certain feelings keeping them in custody. Maybe because you can't forgive yourself for something you have done in the past? Or a broken heart? O this can be very subjective but whatever the message you were trying to convey is rather personal. I like the concept and the metaphor you used. Good work:)

[Lina Grey]

I like the imagery and the metaphors. It's an interesting concept. Thank you.

[Steven Cash]

You bite your own lips? That's kind of odd...

[sivan]

Very interesting read... found myself fascinated while reading... good write