our breakfast joint kicked us out. covid rules. paper cups and bags to go
so we sat down in the lot unwrapped our sandwiches and ate
a honda with a coffee slut bumper sticker was running up on the curb
you got up and helped her park. she thanked you by standing there
spouting how ukrainians are all nazis and vaccines give us covid
her toenails bright ugly orange over my pastrami bagel
the best thing about being on the street is you’re not a captive
audience #katyamills
i bought a glue gun
spread the pieces out on the coffee table to connect them
the traumas they ruptured my memories
then walking around town the questions were flying
where did you get such a lovely coat? how much did it cost?
trust me it’s more than you are willing
to pay
#katyamills
working i made barely enough money
to pay off the service repairs the utilities
groceries petrol clothes hair and nails
taxes insurance credit and mortgage
license registration renewals…
with what remained i
bought and gave away
books
#katyamills
they was raised super competitive
like – kill kill kill!
the rare times they won a contest they
didn’t really know how to feel
deep down they wondered
why cannot we all be cherished?
#katyamills
they was obsessed and careless
and reckless. then it was over
they put a decided stop they
found a heart for living right
the long heavy shadows
blended. telling stories
in quick short bursts loving the ones
who ought
#katyamills
the sun crossed the sky
everyone was amazed
reminded her of her ex
didn’t do a damn thing
and got all the credit
#katyamills
man against polar bear
man against walrus
against dog against dog
man against winter
man against time
against hunger
no need to be
against self
#katyamills
we pushed past cobwebs
got her tires up. compressor plugged into the cig lighter
her battery would take some time to charge
so we all sat around together waiting on this old model ford
the old man pronounced the virtues of a burro over a horse
when traversing mountainous country
how to get pure drinking water by digging a hole beside a river
how the best place to hide
when running from somebody
is the cemetery
#katyamills
we got lucky sevens in the valley
sodas with paper straws we
took our summer with everything on it
the cars no longer sound like cars
the lakes are low the rivers
high and we. for once we are
happy #katyamills
contractors pull up in trucks
on a summer morning
one holds the door for me
at the café
i remember a boy inside a shirt
a field of Ranunculus
holds one to my chin and declares
you like butter
#katyamills
K IS SILENT 