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.
