Untitled (1552), 2006, by Javier Piñón

I found her in 1997 buried under
half dried licks and pills that Johnny said
were beat within an inch of their lives
and it seemed, in those days
he knew about such things
in that long ago time where memories light up
and spark like a neon sign at a riot
when Monique told me about
drugs and better drugs and
drugs that made me feel I’ve never had
drugs before and clothes that were
three sizes too big
and though he discouraged my expendable college cash
I fell in love with her.

but these things stop.

now Mo’ works at UPS
as a shipping manager
and the last time we went out to lunch
she told me about business logistics
all the while wiping her nose
and smiling that you know what I mean smile

and I can’t even tell you what they call cocaine these days
and Mo’ can’t either