Brittany’s Tattoo
—The Haven House for homeless Women and Children
… Her tattoo is no stone-cold Lady Justice—
Tattered blindfold, sword, scales in balance—
… just the ink-black cursive word
Justice cutting over the upward
… thrust of her jugular—
from her throat to the jug band
… of her heart to the ovation
of her brain stretches that thin, blue tether.
………… Only Justice
…… because when Brittany needs to believe
the word’s wine-red truth, she presses
… that wormy vein to feel blood
thunder beneath her fingers.
by Lauren Marie Schmidt
from Filthy Labors
Curbstone Books 2017