Poetics: They were Pearls before

gas station, outside Charlottesville, VA

To see the irony in this, we must
back up past the point when his mom says
'he meant nothing by it, no need to
call the law.'

Even further than us walking dogs
at the SPCA, bits of beaten hair & raw meat
long tongue lolling to take a dump
on something other than concrete,
this man-almost-but-still-boy
for three more days & i pulled along by leashes
as we talk about life and the difference
those few days make

To this morning, when the cock
has yet to raises it's comb & wake the world
from womb warm covers & cuddles, to the kitchen
table where i sit, wishing i was still sleeping, writing
just-I-fication after just-I-fication for why my job works,
so some pencil pushing auditor can make sure i check
the right boxes, as if he can really underStand

That tonight, when this boy's mom calls
to tell me he popped the bedroom closet safe,
cleaned her out & she wants it fixed
even as she stands in unwillingness to hold him
accountable---because, 'he meant nothing
by it, no need to call the law,' WHY


i DOn't lose hope~i DOn't lose faith
but dammit, don't masquerade neglect as love
& expect me to kiss it, even if
you give it's lips a good thick coat of paint
it's still just a pig willing to eat its own shit

Here, take a breathe mint

It'll help mask the stench 
the day he falls with no safety net.


Over @ dVerse Poets today, Stu has us WORKing our poetry for Poetics. He will open the doors @ 3pm. See you then.