The intake form asked about

The intake form asked about

any bruising I couldn't explain.

I wrote no. Kept going—

tobacco, age, the name

of whoever to call.

My wrist was on the counter.

Three days past purple, going yellow

at the edge past the border

of the bone. I don't know

the shelf or the morning.

I circled no. Signed below.

The nurse took it. No warning,

no comment. Just the form

gone and me back in the row

of waiting chairs. The bruise

kept going. Doesn't know

it needs explaining.

Green to yellow to skin.

I press it sometimes. Still

something in there. Still.