I am bruised
I know this
I know this
Pristine stains
Blooming clovers
Looming all over
We skip the black
and blue
and faded yellows
The brilliant clouds of different
Shades of Purple
Shine and Glisten
Reflecting light.
I have been bruised
I know this
I know
I am a bruised frog
Stab Me
Drown Me
Poison Me
Drown Me
As if you didn’t
Have a choice
A say
You are bruising
Scorpion.
The frog drowns.
Scorpion drowns.
I am bruised I say
I want her
to know this
I must show
New affections
Known afflictions
Please ignore the hues
Of Purples
Red-Blues
Tints of Dark Pinks
I am bruised
She knows this
(You) know
(She) touches me softer
And I lighten
And I brighten
And I soften and melt
Velvet Felt to Orchid
Royal to Thistle
Tyrian to Red-Violet
Electric to Mauve (Mallow)
Sweet Mulberry to a Pale
Tropical
Indigo.
(You) touch me softly
And I forget
And I sigh
And I sleep
And I am silly!
And I don’t know
What I did to deserve
This
The bruising and the paling
The bad and the oh so good
Maybe I swell and fade
I was bruised
You know
(You) know
She knows
I don’t know why
I was bruised
I am bad
Do not buy me
I am fading
You touch me
Handle with care
I swell and I fade
What remains?
Whatever (she) sees.
Bruises fade.
She touches me
Gently.
I remain.
Jarrah L. Barton is a Poet, Author, Actress, and Musician living in Meanjin. She has released four (4) self-published poetry chapbooks, and her poetry has been published in Blue Bottle Journal, InkBlot Mag, and several issues of GLASS Magazine. She has performed her poetry before at wonderful places like Ruckus, SpeakEasy, Volta, Woodford Folk Festival, and the Queensland Poetry Festival.