Joel Kuortti

I Know

On the side of my back bag
a shoe mark.
Put there unnoticed
put there however;
and I know where.

There is a mark on my shades,
a fingerprint
visible at the edge of the field
of vision where I leave it, knowing why.

On my cheek a mark
of tears;
somewhere I have a picture
a picture of you,
and I know where.

I know the value of purity,
clarity and certainty.
But I only want to remember
the stains of life.