Blue Eyes Poem by Larry Houston

I held her hand
washed the sweat from her face with a damp cloth
her blue eyes as big as the sky
she shook
from dope sickness
trying to kick on her own
I held her long hair as she puked in the bucket
cleaned her up, cleaned the bucket
fed her ice chips
day five
I drew a warm bath
washed her body, her hair, changed the sheets
three years later, still clean
on the porch, drinking coffee
holding her hand
Her blue eyes as big as the sky