i bleed on all my momma’s shirts

because they’re black.

not once a month

a few times a week

at home

on my bed.

my sheets are red but it still

shows a different pigment

telling me im not that, i must not be that

on my hands and shoulders what i grip between

my lips

what it smears, it says nothing, it says braille

it says you bleed so much because you dont eat so much

you bleed so much because your skin wears thin

when youre shedding it from your scalp

to your ankles.

you bleed on all your mother's clothing because you are an adult in

a way, because you don’t get periods anymore

you just get bloody and sore from other things

because that alone can remind you that you

are healthy enough and you are strong

enough. although none of it is right and you know that, too.

they kind of start

to look like stretch marks but i'm trying to shrink.