my hands are
raw from the disinfectant
knees sore from
constant scrubbing
pink bubbles
as blood mixes
a sleepless night
trying to remove
the stains from
a long life led
chasing after dreams
puffs of smoke
trailing off into
the forever gray
bespeckled by buds
of hopeful blossoms

scraping grout lines
scrubbing in futility
now that spring
has lazily sprang
over dour dallas daydreams
seeking solvents
to dilute the mass of
winter’s forgotten tumors
bloody fingerprints
dripping down the
sparkling face of
of today’s denials
furtively cleansing
while leaving fresh
stains on tomorrow