Heroin Boy

Walked into the bar
half-drunk
By the time I sat
fresh drink in hand
I knew,
there was no one.
A mass of drab black
hair, clothes, tattoos
But
crouched in the corner
Eyes darting -
(till they met mine)
Squatting,
The only notable specimen

He came over
in a ripped white-T
earphones around his neck
beer bottle in hand
Smiling
Bryan

"I just moved here yesterday
from Va.
and I figured,
what the
hell so
I came over."

"How
do you like it
so far?"

"Well, I'm
trying
to kick
Heroin, so..."

We both laughed
mirth
full of

"Let's see," I said

He stretched out his
arms twisted his
wrists almost
the whole way round,
Still
smiling

He wasn't kidding
either
Scabs and brusies
Unforgiving

I wanted to run my fingers
down those arms
lick my lips
Nails picking at the scabs
kiss his neck
But
instead
we laughed
at life

"The pot in this town is insane,"
he told me,
"That and the alcohol helps"

He asked me
to go
and smoke some
over
where he was staying

I, like an asshole
ever so politely
declined
too smart
too sane
too scared -

to do much
more than
flirt
with death.