Loved By All Men, Cherished By Zero

Watching over her children with a
loaded shotgun,
a drunkard’s grin,
my neighbor waits for
falling tear drops.

A police car
drives
past.
One taillight
burned
out.

In her ranch-style house
the windows have been exploded out,
holes decorate the walls,
an empty pill bottle
dances with the breeze.

Bills are piling.
Spinach spoils on the counter top.
Bloody toilet paper balls tossed in the trash.

There’s been no sleep for over three days.

Wickedly entertaining behavior
that never wanted change.
A modern-day maternal outlaw.

An angel in love with the devil’s goodtime ways.