Abandonment Pt I

the corner house by the liquor store, it’s not there anymore
mom’d yell ‘no strangers’ through the front door, it’s not there anymore



we knew to stay away from strangers, but the same ones would pass
at the bottle’s bottom I stare at what’s not there anymore



when I remember childhood I remember alcoholics
worn soldiers would pass by my front door, it’s not there anymore

pirate man and mr. ted blew their smoky breath through the cold
games we played of sibling civil war, it’s not there anymore

Abandonment Pt II

we never did call them bums or winos or vagrants back then
they were old man jack and crazy earl, who’re not there anymore



we moved when dad found a new job to new schools and older games
lonelier neighborhood than before, it’s not there anymore



I quit my childhood bitter and sought out what was familiar
hey mister, outside the liquor store, it’s not there anymore

the brown house, my family it bore, it’s not there anymore
an empty lot by the liquor store, it’s not there anymore