A RIDE OF WANTS
She 27 had regressed to12
Her face bore the skin and scars beyond her years
I drove without recognition of the mileageOn a long slow ride she shared her grave
In the darkness, in prayer, her darknessToo much Hep C for me…to draw closer to embrace
Even in delusion I knew to bust clean from her scene
My cock relentless and independent of the other halfOur dilemma
At the later hours of a crack binge
Lust aside…she cried for child and needle arms
Pro choice sang out for her madness….over easy3am her stop
Across the street from the blood bath bar
Her bags dragging in tow on the empty street
Not distant from hell
To the steps of a section 8I watched her shadow follow her
Through the door of endings
Would redemption come in sleep?
To guide her towards the light
Or will she die sick and alone on stained sheets
Made the front page again
Her way to get clean
AUTUMNS BREATH
Grizzled with time, knurled and unkempt
Fingers scratch at the ice formed on the window
His breath stronger than the years left in limbsHe stares out the back door
Facing mountains…
Splashed in rainbow color
He names them his own one by one
Each day differentIndian corn grows on the flat
His garden a graveyard
Pets and family fertile the soil
In the valley winds they whisper
Softer come closerAt dusk he stokes the cord wood fire
Under the mantle that holds the faces
Of those who shared memoriesHe places candy before the faces
Praying for smiling eyes to sing
When morning comes all is eaten