MUD PIES AND
ALLEYWAYS
AND BITTERSWEET LEAVES
THAT LINE MR. JOHNNY’S HOUSE,
WE PICK THEM FAR TOO SOON
AND CHEW WITH PRiDE
THIS IS A GOOD ONE
WE RACE THROUGH THE JUNGLE OF
BROKEN BRICKS AND WIRE FENCES
THREATENING TO BREAK OVER AND OVER
THE BARRIERS OF OUR SKIN
WE HAD IT ALL MEMORIZED
THERE IS A DEAD GARDEN
THERE WAS A DEAD GARDEN
THERE IS A DEAD GARDEN
AND IT FOLLOWED US HERE
MOMMA I WANT MORE YEARS
I DID NOT ASK FOR THIS ARCHITECTURE
OF MY BRAIN
WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT
TO NOT GIVE ME MINE?
METAL CLINGS TO MY NECK AS IT ONCE
DID YOURS AND YES, THESE SINS
ARE ERASED AND YOU ARE WHOLE AGAIN
RIGHT?
IT’S NOT BLURRY FOR ME MOMMA
I WANT TO LIVE RIGHT NOW
