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Red lettered warning

I will no longer wrap my stigmata in soothing bandages
I will hold up my bleeding palms for everyone to see
the crimson drops spelling
DANGER! UNCERTAIN GROUND!

I will no longer hide my wounds beneath layers of shame 
I will proudly wear them on my frayed sleeve
like scarlet letters spelling
WARNING! FALLING HAZARD!

I will fashion my bloody tears into a ruby necklace
I will wear it openly like my treasured inheritance
spelling to those with open eyes
DO NOT CROSS! POINT OF NO RETURN!

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Robert Melliard

Robert Melliard

17 years 4 months ago

Powerful

This is a powerful piece. I am not sure if the stigmata you refer to are religious or your own wounds from life, but I prefer to understand the latter. Good use of capital letters for emphasis. Best Wishes, Robert.
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Thank you, Robert,

yes, I was referring to the wounds my life has inflicted upon me. The capitals came naturally with this one, glad to see they do what they were supposed to... Regards, ID
Eduardo Cruz

Eduardo Cruz

17 years 4 months ago

ID

"Warning hazardous zone ahead!!!" If you preside beyond this point we are not responsible! Well you've scared me enough to stay away. I guess a relationship with you can be hazardous to ones mental and or physical health. Great write. The stigmata has a meaning of great power that only the pure in heart can with stand, so I would guess if anyone wanted to get close to you their intentions must be real, or if not you will see right through them! I like that, if that's what you were going for. thanks, Eddie
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Thank you, Eddie,

this piece is not really about relationships, though you may have got a point there. I had some troubles in the past to cope with remarks that hurt me from people who could not possibly know why those were dangerous grounds to tread... A friend, who considers herself a white witch, gave me some advice: "Bear your wounds openly for everyone to see if you do not wish to be hurt again." was what she said to me. I am trying... Regards, ID
Proprietress of Crimson Hearts

Proprietress o…

17 years 4 months ago

... and you are doing well, my friend.

those who are wounded are deep. continue on your journey. those who love you will gladly cross over to "the point of no return". you are worth it, my strong dragon, and I should know. love the write, you're constantly growing.
Debra Bryant

Debra Bryant

17 years 4 months ago

Ink

I liked this very much, and I think I understand completely the concept of "bearing wounds openly for all to see". No one can really say what they would do in any situation unless they had been there themselves. People unknowingly say things that hurt because they have a very biased opinion. We should be careful of our words, they can cause wounds that never heal! Sincerely; Debbie
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Thank you, Debbie,

even though the wounds that do not want to heal are not really inflicted upon us by those biased people, their words can tear them open again all too easily... I appreciate your comment, which is full of insight and understanding, Ink
T

Tink

17 years 4 months ago

Ink,

Powerful! The next step of healing. It's attitude like I said before. "I am here and damaged, enter at your own risk". Acknowledging what you know is wrong is the only way to fix it. Being "true" to yourself, so you can be true to and with others. Standing strong despite your hurt and fears. I want to say "showing all your battle wounds with a certain amount of pride, letting them know that no matter what they say or do you are strong and will survive through all. and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." This piece invokes my warrior inside, makes her stir, readying for what and who may come next. oh yeah, this makes your anger work with and for you, not against you. defuses the nastiness of anger when you do that. Well done. Live, Laugh and Love (and don't forget to write) Tink
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Tink,

you make me blush as scarlet as my letters in this piece... Am I really strong? I still feel vulnerable, and am trying to protect myself... Thanks for your kind words once again, my friend, Ink
yenti

yenti

17 years 4 months ago

Little Dragon

Breathe fire on them, well not exactly, there are two ways to look at your wounds . Do you show that you can be hurt, or at the same time that you are strong, and can stand being wounded. Best to show them to ones that can understand what they are, out there are some that do not wound either with words or actions, and love people as they find them. Seek out the things you need and the friends you wish to journey with and have a beautiful life experience. Let the wounds heal first though. Lovely write very direct, Yours Ian.T
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Thank you, Ian,

I am trying to bear my "battle wounds" proudly, but they do not exactly make me feel proud... Fortunately, I have some wonderful friends who know about these wounds and are careful not to tear them open again, the problem I used to have was with relative strangers involuntarily poking their fingers into them... Regards, ID
Y

youarehere

17 years 4 months ago

Wounds & Anger

I love the force of this write...a warning, and yet also a vulnerable plea, to those that would carelessly and ignorantly prod the wounds of the Feminine awaken the sleeping Kali, Goddess of Wrath and Death and Destruction of the parts of our self that no longer serve. What I love most about this poem is the openness of heart and willingness...even defiance...to stay open in the face of the past experince of and future threat of wounds and hurts. If we close our hearts due to pain, pain which is an inherent part of life, we also close our hearts to joy and communion and union. Whoever wants to be close to the Feminine must also accept, and even embrace, the fierceness of the Wrathful aspect of Her. There is great beauty in the face of the Feminine, but we fear it, so we try to control it...as if we could control hurricanes, volcanoes or earthquakes. It also seems to me that our greatest gifts come out of our greatest wounds, like the image of Christ's sacrfifical blood...his greatest wound is his greatest gift. Living ith our heart open is a great gift, it's just that it hurts. I enjoy the writing and language very much...reminds me of the directness and clarity of DH lawrence combined with the vulnerbaility of Anna Akhmatova. Michael
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Michael, my new buddy,

thank you for this wonderful comment, though I am not so sure I want to be compared to Kali, but then again, she is also a protector of homes and families if I remember correctly? Maybe that´s what drives many women: Protecting their loved ones?! As for the comparisons you draw later in your comment, let me just say I am turning another shade of red... Ink
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

17 years 4 months ago

One step at a time

I see you growing stronger by releasing your feelings through your work, Ink. You are brave and powerful. Sharing your experiences with others is both a way to drag all those hidden demons into the light and a method of teaching others who might find themselves in such a situation. I'm very proud of you, my friend! love ~ Ronda
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

My dear Ronda,

you were so right when you said we would be stronger after writing our experiences down. I could feel it in your series, too, how you went from uncertainty to confidence... Thank you again, my friend, Ink
themoonman

themoonman

17 years 4 months ago

Ink...

like the others here I like this powerful piece... particularly the warnings... self realization is a beautiful thing... Richard
Pixee

Pixee

17 years 3 months ago

A Touched Nerve

Hello, Miss Dragon I have been gone from the seen for a while. I am catching up on my reading. When I read this one, it hit me deeply. I can empathize with you. I know exactly how you feel. I could not have put it into words. Take care of You!!! Sincerely, Pixee
I

Ink Dragon

17 years 3 months ago

Thank you pixee,

I feel honoured that my little poem touched a nerve. Looking forward to reading you more often, Ink
W

weirdelf-test

16 years 7 months ago

your poetry knocks my socks off!

I thank my friend Jess, known here as weirdelf for introducing me to this site. I always thought poetry was cute rhyming ways of saying nothing, you make it a force of nature. You inspire me in my creativity and my femininity. I hope to gather the courage to express myself as you do. meow
I

Ink Dragon

16 years 7 months ago

Hi meow,

hope it's not too cold down under, you being sockless now ;) Wow, I feel honoured that I inspired you! Yours, ~Nina
kaligantsaros

kaligantsaros

16 years 7 months ago

April 23rd is my day....

Dragon's blood rubies, cherished by all alchemists . Words of advice and consideration cherished and respected by me. But my mistress freedom wants that necklace. I hope this is a prelude to some more great writing and fierce creativity.
I

Ink Dragon

16 years 7 months ago

Theo,

fierce - yes. Creativity - I hope so. Great writing - you be the judge of that. As always, yours, ~Nina
Seren

Seren

16 years 7 months ago

Dear Nina

Wonderfully powerful write bravo my friend , you leave me speachless I bow to your pen ... love and higgest bugs Jayne x x x
I

Ink Dragon

16 years 7 months ago

Jayne,

hugs back! I've been missing reading you, my friend, will visit your page as soon as I've managed to check out all my missed updates. Much love, ~Nina