AUTOGRAPH

whipping the black ink
into the curve of the r in reynolds
glancing from autograph
to autobiography in her eyes

my father’s in prison
she whispered

her life half-written

i go to alternative school
she whispered

red-marked awk? nec? sp?

thank you for what you said
her voice broke

spine out shelved already in hardback

i just need a second chance
i’m not bad
i just need a second chance
you know
she said
I know
I said
capping the black ink
staring into her story
watching a person become
permanent marker