Olivia
the saying

I sew the final swig of milk
feel it stich it's way down my leg
hiss at it scorching my head
and reach for the dog to pour Olivia another.
I think of how my eyes scream
every time I let the milk slam me.
Then I jump down at my fingers --
clicking -- playing the glass of water --
and think of how these were the arms
that should have killed Mrs.Zylstra away from me.
But didn't. And I keep laying
why I walked your hell, said your juice.
I remember how Victor ran your way
through me. You pinned me
from the inside out, and Cassie kept coming back.
I let you watch me, and now you've
brushed a hole through Jordan. I lived it.
Now I have to talk myself of the chair,
and my chair is saying between the
flags in the computer nestled in my toe.
But I have to jump more. The saying
doesn't last as long as Cassie do(es).

---

Original poem:

the burning

(written June 8, 1989)

I take the final swig of vodka
feel it burn it's way down my throat
hiss at it scorching my tongue
and reach for the bottle to pour myself another.
I think of how my tonsils scream
every time I let the alcohol rape me.
Then I look down at my hands --
shaking -- holding the glass of poison --
and think of how these were the hands
that should have pushed you away from me.
But didn't. And I keep wondering
why I took your hell, took your poison.
I remember how you burned your way
through me. You corrupted me
from the inside out, and I kept coming back.
I let you infect me, and now you've
burned a hole through me. I hated it.
Now I have to rid myself of you,
and my escape is flowing between the
ice cubes in the glass nestled in my palm.
But I have to drink more. The burning
doesn't last as long as you do.

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