It’s so easy to give a
child a thankless gift 

Walking the pitted pavement
On a warm summer evening 

Holding court
beneath the

Nippled street lamp
Squirting light

Into the sobbing
Mouth of darkness 

Sunburned back
Cut weeds 

Arrows tattooed in concrete
Magic words
Sprayed across walls 

The sky rips open soft
Glowing brainless matter
Putting me as close
As I am permitted 

If I could share
This bliss of isolation 

That’s how much
I love you