A Stain. Yes! A stain.

Not to be confused with a scar.

No—no, no. no.

A scar is poetic

even meaningful.

From a scar we can learn,

but a stain—no.

People laugh at it.

As if it was a joke.

A stain is a misshape.

A stain rots.

Value diminishes instantly—

Climbing deep between woven thread

Scrub it out. Yes, scrub it out.

It’s still there making light grey dark

clinging like festering cracked skin

why this one?

why not another?

Are you still there in secret?

Near the middle of my back