Tell me about the time you almost pinned youth to the ground
How she laughed in bell tones before she cried
Before she told you that her time was almost up
That was when you noticed the bruises, didn't you?
Around her wrists?
Shackles around her bronze, freckled skin
She said she was trying something new, but you knew
She had no choice
The cuts on her elbows and knees were scabbing over
Her trademark injuries from tumbling down hills
And spending hours at the park
These bruises were new
And they weren't scabbing over
No, these were here to stay