He was only 37 years old;
He swallowed vicodin
chased with liquor
& shot heroin
& went to rehab
for sticking needles--
in his arm.

& he fell asleep
in his Captain Crunch cereal
while my brother and I
sat there--
& laughed
we didn't understand

& he took us on his
“quick errands”
& left us in the car
so we wouldn't see.

But before all of this,
he sure did
give me guitar lessons
& make me bagels
with extra cream cheese.
He’d tickle me to death.
& we’d laugh so hard
I just couldn’t breathe anymore.

-after the style of Arlene Tribbia