Velvet hush, red on white Eyes above, hands clenched too tight Scripture hisses behind the veil Still it burns beneath the lace They call it sacred, they call it sin But I know where the fire begins Sanctified skin, bruised and bare Fragrant lies hang in the air They take this body, call it grace But I see hunger on every face Sanctified skin — not a prayer Just silence no one wants to bear Red on white, breath held still Obedience dressed in candle spill They say it’s duty, I call it theft They strip the sacred, leave what’s left They bow to power, I rise in flame They call it love — I know its name Sanctified skin, torn and exposed Perfumed guilt that never goes They take this body, call it grace But I see hunger in every face Sanctified skin — not their prayer Just a silence they can’t bear “Blessed be the fruit…” “Under His eye…” “I remember who I was.” Hallowed skin, no longer theirs Burn the bed, break the stairs They wrote the rules, I tore the page Now I’m the fire, I’m the rage Hallowed skin — not their prayer Just a scream that fills the air
