watercolors

how did we ever
recognize each other with carved
eyes hollowed out like that?
you were so
beautiful the way your eyeliner
stains made watercolor bruises
on your cheeks
the way you would choose
not to use the
filter cussing jaclynn
susann throwing apple
cores at nobody in particular
the way you danced oh my the
way you danced that stork
dance so uniquely human

i was cain you were unable or was
it the other way around?
i wanna say i loved
you but love is never that
bloody is it?

to protect and
serve they forced themselves on
you to protect you from
seven years in pelican
bay so tears were
rare bruises internalized
harder to remove than
watercolor
eyeliner stains on the heart
birthmarks on the soul

now cain is at it again out
firebombing unables fighting
over magic beanstalks and
teenage prostitutes with watercolor
bruises

i have missed you
stork dancer
i am certain in the
faith that you could make
it all make sense somehow if
only you were here to smear
your watercolor bruises on my
cheeks

 © John Kennan 4-24-21