Radio guest: she is somewhat
sharply dressed; hair
combed, etc. She wears
casual but neat clothes.

She speaks in a voice
that is a matter of big truth
and minute fact of her dead son
who died of an overdose
ten years ago but she’s
grateful now that
she had him and all that.

My parents
are both gone and I’m
straight-edge so neither
will ever have to speak
of me in the way
that she speaks
of him:
a matter of fact —

skeleton of rhythm
and music he once loved;
his bones tapping him out of
the picture.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
onward,
T