1062

he had a black eye
the kind actors get in movies
a cut on the brow
some bruising under one eye
uneven blues making a circle

his shirt had a rose
it said
“you look like a rose”
he made sure the text
could be seen
regardless of his position

before the photo
he put on a new shirt
a button down he tucked
loosely into his pants
so there was a slight
billowing effect in the back

if one were to look
closely at the photo
his chest and stomach
could be seen abandoning
the body they’re usually
attached to

he whispered in her ear
the woman with skin
reflecting the light
bouncing up to blonde hair
“remember that time?”

she had a cherry red dress
sequins on the side
perhaps it was christmas
and a black clutch
she left on the table
its contents peeking
out onto the table

he repeated
“remember that time we…”

the more he looked
down at his hands
at the photo he printed
the one dulled and blurred
a cherry red dress
now near a smudge
or a wink in time
the more he looked
the slower he breathed

in
out
a silent hush
filling of the lungs

who could blame him?

who would want peace
when the past only
survives in drained reds
and colorless smiles
when the past only
survives in war