Bruises

Once on a yellow sheet of paper with green lines
He wrote a story and called it "Bruise"
Because that's what he saw on his sister's arm
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an 'A' and a gold star
And when he showed his sister
She told him not to worry because she got them during soccer practice
But, he knew she didn't play soccer
That was the year her boyfriend was taken to jail
And their mother and father fought a lot

Once on a white piece of paper with blue lines
He wrote a story and called it "Shit"
Because that's how he felt his life was going
And his teacher yelled at him for his profanity
And his mother and father were called into separate meetings
That was the year his sister's boyfriend was released from jail
And he had to attend his sister's funeral

Once on a brown cafe napkin he wrote a question
And he gave it to his favorite barista who, in turn, signed it 'yes'
That was the year he had his first girlfriend
And they called what they had 'Love'
And his parents never talked to each other or him
And the barista told him not to worry
Because she was all he needed

Once on a white piece of paper with no lines
He wrote a story and called it "Bruise"
Because that's what he saw on his hand and his girlfriend's body
And that's what is was all about
And the people in the courtroom shook their heads with tears in their eyes
That was the year he slept on metal
And the other guys in his cell smiled evilly

Once on a cold, white, wall with no lines
He wrote a poem and called it "Bruise"
Because that's what covered his body
And that's what it was all about
And his sister never came home
And his mother and father never saw each other
And his girlfriend never came by to say 'hi'
And he never got to apologize
And that was the year he took his life
Because all he had left was a bruise