I have been overwhelmed...

in the last few weeks with kind words about my poems and writing. It is a small thing perhaps to you who have shared with me that you somehow enjoy what I do, but huge to me. I do not work much or often, neither do I date or socialize like I used to with friends. Nearly every moment of my days, and often my nights are consumed by snippets and phrases and words pushing their way out of me, shouting at me to escape to paper, and to have even a tiny bit of encouragement means so much. Thank you.

Hot

It was one of those Motels

that stayed in business as

a shadow of its former self,

with weekly rates and

dope deals, and a pool

that always sat dry.

The faceless, open coil

air conditioners would

freeze up, and blow hot,

if you dared try them

before it was dark.

If you wanted a phone

it was five more bucks.

The girls never got phones,

so they would run

back and forth to my room

calling tricks or dealers

or sometimes their kids

they left back home.

I would sit on the landing

in a near crippled chair

hoping a breeze would
come there and see me .

The neighbor came first

and I nodded

as he lit up a smoke.

He talked too much,

and used the girls,

and had a crappy green tattoo

of Jesus or Willie.

I never liked him but

it was hot and you can't

open the windows in those places.