Devil Child Poem by Karen Riggs

walk down main - nothings new to me
i never worry because i dont care about protecting myself
but theres some loose cannons- beggars- n ur their banquet
' how can a woman so quickly turn to dust?
its got to be about love
perhaps the 1st time the neighbor raped you - or your father did
did your mama watch- because she was so high on heroin?
how can humanity so quickly turn to dust? '
i was living thinkin- when that midnight door would open up again
his cigarettee and whisky beer breath porched by my bedside
a tiny clock that would tell me when it was all over- wake up for school-
kids clowning around like they were atop the world never knowin how it feels to need to need
i was so young- so young- but i never got a chance to be young!
a tiny clock sits by my bed n it reminds me of all those nights
he may have hurt me but hell never not pay the concequences that i have dreamed upon his soul from night 2 night
'i have franchised his funeral
a forest in hell- i am not the best
but i would never hurt anyone
i'm used 2 having a family these days
maybe the devil will disapearr w/in a dream!