Leopard Skin

i just look down
at the hole in the couch
pull with my fingers
it's yellow and brown
like the new bruise
that forms in your mouth
catches a vein
and hollows me out

lie still
don't agitate
blue in the neck
red in the face
but it feels good to carry your shame
and live in the stain glassed body you made

the tries and the false starts
bending our backs to make it stick
piled up report cards
big green checks
and leopard skin
drawing on your arm