strip me clean, please
because no matter how hard I scrub,

this bar of soap won't wash away

my

scars

& the smell of broken promises

is a poor substitute for perfume




unwrap my bandages like a

Christmas present

until nothing is left of me but bones

maybe my skeleton won't be as

broken as the rest of me




and please strip me clean

because my tears have left hickeys straight down my bruised cheeks

& all of my lies have left cracks in my lips




my blood stained wrists

are signed by the devil

because I sold him my soul

the first time you swore that you

loved me.

my own clothes betray me

when they cling to my

worn skin




I wish to escape my enemies someday

but I can't run away from my own thoughts

so please strip me clean.




my eyes are clouds that harbor a storm

and I forgot my umbrella at home. strip me clean

on the inside, we're all the same




strip me clean

because I want to be like everyone else

and strip me clean, please

so that I'm nothing but a skeleton

and if you strip me clean,

down to my bones,

maybe then I'll be beautiful.