“Careful not to disturb the wound” 11/15 from 21st Century Retablo. 11.7″ x 16,” mixed-media on archival paper, 2005-06. Permanent collection, USC Fisher Museum of Art.

POEM:

careful not to disturb the wound   she
worked her way around it   daubed it with salve   spit
into her hand   dipped her finger in the spittle
massaged the craggy-
skin rim crater