poem || Stephen Straub

Ratchet

All the liquor

                      Sprawled

                                     Across

                                                The wine red table.

Thanks, babe, I no longer care.

Water’s never cold, only bitter

When you’re swimming with an ice queen.

You won’t believe

The shit

I can’t recall.

Tragedy only exists in memory.

Trauma’s in the body.

Yeah I’m shirtless,

Why aren’t you?

Portuguese is sassy Spanish;

I’ll slur it the shame after a sangria o dos.

We only have a bottle each.

It’s the last day; smoke me clean.

ALL THE MEN NEED TO LEAVE

Yeah I’m naked,

And so are you.

Feel guilty?

Don’t.

Everyone’s doing it the shame

Without you within and without you.

Never Forget,

But why did I say it again?

These pics will never see the light of day-

Thank God I poured it from my brain.

Yeah I’m lonely,

So are you.

Slam the last shot glass

When shattered

                                                                        Scatter

I might remember the moment

My soul escaped

And watched my body free

And nothing else.