They told her
don't play with fire
but forgot to mention
she was the flame

she lit cigarettes
with prayers
kissed men
like confessions
And carved love poems
into her own skin
not for attention,
but so the ache would
finally
have a place to live

the church said
"forgive them"
but the moon whispered
"burn"

so she danced
in black boots
And rage
with lipstick made from
the ashes
of everything
they tried to silence
inside her

her body was
a cathedral
haunted by songs
no one sang out loud
so she sang them
herself
quietly
fiercely
off key
alive

they taught her
silence is survival
so she learned how to scream
without making a sound

And she
burned down
every rule
that told her
not to be holy