Jimmy Icarus shot speed,
he flew so high.
Blood in the barrel
and bones in the spoon,
he would race to the sun
and howl like a loon.
China Doll turned tricks,
got up and went down
Rocks on the table,
a stem in her purse,
she never really figured
life could be worse.
Irish Red Murphy
followed the Dead
Three hits of kind bud,
and bootleg tapes,
deep conversations
of corporate rape.
Mouthwash Jimmy got
a Dollar Store fix,
a homeless academic,
soup lines for grub,
lost a leg last winter,
left with a nub.
Shelly was crazy,
got married in rehab.
Momma sang gospel,
Daddy played Cash
Raised Pentecostal,
ate pills and shot smack.
Knew and loved them all,
each time, a different life.
Been a student and a hobo,
a junkie and a thief,
but I've known a thousand people
and tasted their grief.
