Crank (Crank 1)

(I was supposed to put my dirties

in the laundry room, but who could remember?)

Sucki

ng down coffee, nibbling a half cup

of honey-sweetened corn flakes

for a slight rush of caffeine and carbs.

Catching a ride with Robyn or one

of my Avenue buds, coaxing myself

mostly awake with a whiff of white.

Twenty minutes on the Avenue

before the bell rang, tempering

my morning buzz with nicotine.

Stumbling into homeroom, most likely tardy,

hoping Mrs. Twedt wouldn’t notice

and reward me with detention.

Making some classes, cutting others,

deciding which would be which

by which was which the day before.

And somehow I managed to convince

myself life with the monster

was not routine.

Problem Number Two: Relationships

Old friendships, tucked away

like treasures,

relegated to tokens of yesterday.

New friendships, faulty ground

to cultivate

and build a future upon.

Old boyfriends, a very short list,

abbreviated