Au Ra Cl

Henna

hides

the scars

of sin;

beauty

inks regret —

tattoos

permanence

in pen,

flesh carved,

lest I forget.

Mandalas

repeating

truths;

endless

rope

of knots —

past,

plaited,

(braid

with

sage

&

myrrh)

pinned:

fresh forget-me-nots

Pages turn,

time slowly fades,

but

poison

leaches veins,

’til aura

of an

onyx past,

bleached —

Sun’s gold

numbs

the pain.