he wears bruises as skin
and scars as tattoos.

in what he calls home;
are echoes of blinding screams,
are loud screeches of pain,
are impulsive reactions.

he's uncertain what the term
"family" possesses
only believing it's pain.

what he couldn't learn
was that family could
be sweet and peaceful.

and so he wears bruises from
the fights he tried to break.
and scars as pride in the memory.