ROW MEMENTO.

AN ABUSED WOMAN AND THE BRUISE.

There was only that
Element of the day’s
Row to keep as a

Memento: that bruise
On the cheek the one
He accidently

Gave (or so he claimed)
And you carry it
Now over to the

Mirror and gaze at
The greeny blue now
Turning yellow soft

Contusion just on
The left cheekbone or
Maybe below and

You touch it with your
Finger and sense the
Smart like feeling the

Fight and row in a
Bright spark and you lean
Closer to stare like

At some work of art
And sigh and mutter
Words beneath your breath

(He’s in the next room)
And pull skin and look
Harder and feel it

Tender and listen
To his cursing through
Door and wall thinking

Maybe just maybe
He doesn’t love you
Sweetie pie at all.