Crank (Crank 1)

That’s what I became that day. A dealer.

I had just taken a very big step up

in the hierarchy of the monster.

I Became an Instant Celebrity

out on The Avenue.

The crank was superb.

And I, being new to the deal,

didn’t know enough to cut it.

I sold it like I bought it—rich,

yellow, moist, and stinky.

I offed the half, went

back for more, offed that, too.

My friends were happy.

Roberto was happy—

enough to front me even more.

And I was nonstop wired.

Nonstop tired.

I needed more and more just to get through the day.

More and more just to feel okay.

Who knows how much I’d be doing now?

Who knows how much money I might have made?

Who knows if I would

have smoked up all the profits?

Who knows if I would have

ended up in prison—or worse?

But one morning in early

November, I woke up

and the moment I got

up, I heaved until I hurt.

It might have been the flu