i knew he’d be in there

he was

he was wanted by the cops

for shoplifting

at fifteen, he had avoided

all the traps

the hoodie obfuscated his face

from the cameras

his tongue was not much given

to a torrent of words

maybe you might get

one word grunts

i can’t hide you out i can’t

hide you out

he poured the scorn of at least a cup

of sugar into the terror of his coffee

i’m a thief you’re a thief i’m a

thief you’re a thief

a still and quiet conscience he

sat facing the door

cops he said cops he said cops

he said

he lit a cigarette and his eyes

sunk down into his drowning

detention is where they rape you detention

rosebuds filled with snow

take me back he said take me back to

you have to hide me

he could always dance attendance upon my

heart and yet a wretched thing

one short sleep encased inside the hoodie

despair and the dust of him