Legible

She squinted at my wrist.

What's that say? I told her. Pause.

Oh, I see it now. She didn't.

People are careful with their gauze.

Ink spreads. First letter's worst—

I flinched, the artist hit it twice.

Hold still. I didn't hold still.

That blur is the price.

Used to be a word.

Now it's a word said underwater.

Readable only by the one who wears it,

and even that gets harder.