Ink

I write your name

on my palm

until it smears

into my skin

and I can’t see it anymore

So I pick up a pen

and write it again

hoping it will stay

in place

But it always fades

by the end of the day

I don’t know what

I keep writing it for

Ink stains my prints

like it’s a part of me

critical to my identity

but it should be

washed away

Black from the start

but as time drags on

slowly fades to gray

Morning comes

I think it’s gone

But then I can’t help it

Some things don’t change

I’ll keep writing your name

onto my heart and my skin

until I know

you’re not mine anymore

I don’t want to let go

don’t want the ink to fade

I don’t want to forget

seeing your name

maybe I’ll just

get a tattoo instead