Scars that Rub Off

Jiani Gi

After an eight hour sojourn

I reappear / with the skin on

my knee split open as though

I’ve outgrown myself \ too quickly for

stretch marks

to suffice.

I sit atop

a chair. As my father

kneels before me on the floor.

Quickly his arm is on my knee,

is rubbing alcohol.

Ah, no pain I feel in this surprise! I am strong.

I peel the scar \ that \ forms at nine and

eat it, in a dream / at nineteen: if I see eyes like those, I know

\ that \

They want to conquer a different slit in my skin.