Street Wise

Forlornly looking at my dog,

Who's curled on my tattered pants,

I look up and wish again for help,

A miracle, a sign that I should keep on

Instead of taking her to a pound

And walking with lead shoes into the Erie.

All I have is her and this faded picture

Of happier times, when I had Nathan.

My first true love, my baby, my all,

Pain rips into my ribs when I look

But I hate myself too much to not.

Him sitting on my lap seconds before

The door opened and Cherry ran in

And his little face lit up like a star.

Cherry is all I have left of then,

Of Nathan, my marriage, my mom

Before we overslept, missed the ark,

And drowned in the dirty streets.

Cancer came first, snatching my mom,

Dragging her on a ride of hope and fear,

Dropping her when she was comfortable.

I still had Nathan, who dried my tears,

Held my hand, and helped me through.

That smile, those sparkling eyes, his laugh

Bounced along the hollowing walls

Long after the plane crashed with him inside.

My husband left but it didn't matter,

Not anymore now that it was all empty, all gone.

My fire ate up everything else that was left

After a long night of Schnopps and gin.

It wasn't a home anymore, just a roof and walls,

Echoes of memories and reverberator of sobs.

I'm better off without it, but not Cherry,

Wrapped in a tight ball on my lap, shivering.

Despite all the clothes and blankets I give,

Nothing is warm like our home, our bed,

Nathan's embrace, my mother's smile,

My wedding ring that burned hot in the flames

But never truly broke down, just like the love,

Just like the house that is cindered wood

Being remodeled into someone else's dream.

I'm the only one that broke apart and lost it,

Lost my house, lost my family, lost everything.

I'll find my Cherry a home before I go.