longing

the vines hang limp on Red Mountain’s sides
like the arms of inmates
draped over prison bars
neither hopeful nor hopeless

day by day freedom passes the inmates
as a nonstop progression of cars pass them by
causing them to swing up and out
longing to get away

brought here from Japan
although originally from China
the foreign menace (in summer heat)
can grow almost half a meter per day

can we blame the plant?
it didn’t ask to be brought here
so it has been forced to survive
by any means necessary

the blanketing of it’s leaves
suffocates everything
around it and it’s combined weight
causes tree limbs to surrender and break

but we’re just talking about kudzu
it’s pretty purple flower smells like
grapes but who even cares?
It’s a menace and must be stopped.

it’s your problem too

 

 

you see me on the sidewalk near your house
you see me in the grocery store or gas station too
i pass you in traffic every morning on i-59
i sometimes pass you after work as well

 

you saw me on the sidewalk and thought nothing
you saw me in the grocery store and the gas station and so what
passed you this morning doing 90 and i flipped you off, you fucking swerved at me
i may see you when i get off work but i probably won’t

 

i walked down the sidewalk to get my handful of methadone
i got a half-case at the grocery store and another an hour later at the gas station
when i flipped you off this morning i had a .40 caliber pistol in my lap
i don’t even remember what you looked like, i’ll never forget your fucking truck

 

my problems
a drug problem
a drinking problem
an anger management problem

 

your problems
my drug problem
my drinking problem
my anger management problem

 

if you see me on the sidewalk, say ‘bad day huh?’ and smile
if i’m at the grocery store or gas station ask me about my tattoos or something
when i pass and flip you off, just ignore me, you’d better fucking ignore me
i’m angry at life and i have to get somewhere to help me feel better

my problems are your problems too