Demi

[Todd]

I imagine you with your eyes closed,
face smooth and unconcerned. You are young
enough to be my daughter.

I imagine you still younger
in a long black shirt, sleeves pulled down
nearly to your fingertips, hiding
a crisscross of white scars.

Now older and still hiding
collapsed veins, that line
of bee stings—your arms
a potholed road. If you can’t see,
then maybe you have control.

I cannot imagine you older 
than you are. Your life
is a track repeating
on a record forever. I imagine

you with your eyes closed.