environmental controls

one hectic morning, they slept late
  having been kept up late last night
  by Him all drunk all yelling and leering
 
and now He's barking and they are jumping
  get that dog his fucking food!
  no time for breakfast gotta get to school

when they moved in with Him, he had said
  what a cute dog that was
  and He responded "good, then he's yours" 

he sought refuge in his bedroom
  water dripping from the ceiling panel
  breathing in the black mold walls

he couldn't feed the dog before the bus

  so no food for him all day today

  stomach pining he writes his poems

that dog bounded in from the backyard

  jumped up and drooled on his bed

  he lies on a gritty comforter

mother came to him late at night
  one slice of wrapped american cheese
  she offered to his hunger

grit and dirt and hair and mold
  and yells and smacks and hunger and worse
  a boy's childhood

last night like every other night
  this morning like every other morning
  out of his control.