Tyke Poem by Ted Sheridan

she told me she had cut her dyed black hair
with a knife
said it was better than cutting her wrist
or lopping off an ear; whatever inspires you,
but go figure. I told her just to add
some red streaks to it for more effect.
she got a tongue stud a couple of years back;
claimed it was
good for her sex life. sex with what
I don’t know. only glad it isn’t with me.
too old and too far down the road
to take a detour like her to some place
not on any map.
when I was younger
I might have jumped her bones
after a few mushrooms and a hit of hash maybe.
I remember a girl like her in a bar, thinking saigon
maybe bangkok or sydney…I’ve never been good
with remembering names and faces;
they're like tattoos
and open sores on the lips of whores.
she told me she had cut her dyed black hair
with a knife
said it was better than cutting her wrist
or lopping off an ear;
maybe she should rethink more of her decisions….

2008 © TS