His mother drinks tepid cola
from a neon pink plastic cup
and dies a little bit more
every day.

His mother eats penuchi fudge
naked in the back of her closet
and thinks this is what it is to be
alive.

His mother sings soft music
to her sad little gray kitten
as if the words could pat him
all night.

His mother screams at roaches
on the granite kitchen counter
and dies a little bit more
every day.