The gray of the morn
Made me want it even more
Wakin’ from unconscious
Of last night’s excesses
My ol’ lady too
Said, Baby…You
Gotta go get some
So I did
I done crossed the line
Into the neighborhood
So many’ve left
Behind
I drove low
Past the falling pants guys
Waitin’ in the rain
For the currency exchange
Drove low past the cruiser
Dirty white Interceptor
Black hubs and cow-catcher
Where there’s never been no cows
Drove low past the Church
The Church of Joy
Its parking-lot puddles
Of tears, not rain
Drove low past the barred windows
Of the convenience, meat, and grocery
Its billboard bold boasting
CIGARETTES, CITRON, LOTTO, and LINK
I Drove low
And then stopped
Hurried into the lab
Were they make it
Nodded to the girl
Showed my clump of bills
Her tattoo of Magdalene
Appearing to us both
I hurried back out
And drove low again
‘Round a burned-out mattress
Discarded onto the double yellow
Then made it back over
To the seems-like-it’s-safe side
Back in my living-room and kitchen
Tossed the bag to my wife
Warm honey-glazed donuts
To go with the scrambles and bacon
While the landscaper’s mower
Hummed loud in the backyard
Jim's Writing 