From Old to New
there is blood
on the linoleum
dark and dried
it won’t scrub clean
the girl on her knees
tried
to clean it up
it bothered her
being there
soon as you walked in the door
she saw it
that was the welcome mat
nobody talked about it
that’s how it always was
the morning after
but there was evidence
this time
broken bottles can be swept away
doors can be replaced
like furniture and lamps and dishes and collectibles
holes in the walls can be fixed
like screens and windows and handles
bruises on the skin
can disappear
nights in the ER
stop blinking
yelling and screaming
can quiet down
threatening thunder
can clear like a cloud
knives can be put back in the drawer
chainsaws can be turned off
beers and bottles can be trashed
but a pool of dried blood
on a linoleum floor
won’t evaporate
or dissolve
and the girl stares
at the stain
on her way out
and her way back in
maybe it bothered them, too
years after she left
they got rid of the whole thing
and had something squeaky clean delivered
new locks and doors
new walls and windows
new furniture and floors
all new floors
but they never could quite
get rid of that stain
‘cause it bled on through
TL