Bare Necessities

Survival comes on strong
As the instinct you thought belonged tucked in your back pocket
You are a city marcher, street parader
You believed you would never need to use this tool
That has you in life’s sparse good graces
Imagine what East Hastings St. feels like
when 4 am comes as quickly as the mid day nap
you’ve missed for the past 10 years
your tears, have long since dried up
and you keep flying up
up higher than a frat boys Saturday night
but his has become a lifelong nightmare
your arms rest bare to ashy
trash filled streetlight
tonight, you have scratched away the skin
that held addiction
in the shape of a bubble,
in the crook of your arm
the harm you have done to yourself far surpasses
that of the others you have affected
for right now, stay with me,
hide away, be safe with me,
There are bandages under my kitchen sink
For right now
you won’t have to see this damage
Don’t worry
Your mother will forgive you
Your father will forgive
Your brother will forgive you
Tonight, we know
that you have not been yourself
We know that you have not felt
the sunlight of mid day
The way we have.
We know that our anticipation of summer
Is not shared
You are still scared
Of what 4 am brings.
These things
Are much more important,
The warmth that may follow
Is the only part you look forward to
You… you my dear,
You are no longer you.
And when we see each other
on the street
Next week,
I will ask how you’ve been
You’ll tell me today is a good day,
you have your bare necessities
you have brought my pillow
back to your street corner
you have a sheet, your life and a coffee
today is a good day
you have your bare necessities