High School (my brothers, my friends, and the glory days.)

Get up

Fuck up

7 am

You’re late

Get dressed

Get nervous

Get stressed

downstairs

mom yells

Lucas cries

says he tries

but he’s

been tellin lies

and She’ll deal with it

when we get home.

Hot tears

cheeks still stinging

wet

outside

Freezing air

burns lungs

Nic drives

Music on

but we have to wait,

Amir’s late, and

We can’t leave home

without him.

Pick up

Justin K

on the way,

Silent car ride,

Lucas

is afraid

7:40

we arrive

mean stares

teacher glares

Marco’s got

Gay long hair

Sleeps in class

doesn’t pass

any of his tests.

Where’s your homework

phone-call home,

FUCK

knots in stomach

swimming head

when mom gets home

I’m fucking dead.

11:00 cafeteria

Faggot

pussy

fucking gay-ass

bitch

Lunch tastes like

nervousness

Sit with friends

and chew the food,

watch the clock

hear what’s new

Then back to class

filled with dread

go tear up

and breath

in bathroom stalls

Walk the halls

for half an hour

talk with Chris

(he makes

me smile)

Then when finally

that last bell rings

over the evening

Announcements,

Walk around

In the town

with Lisa Fitz

for as long as I can

4 o’clock

then she sighs

We both realize

we’ve got to go back home

Mumble words

seeyadumarrow

And then the

parting ways.

In the back door

try to sneak

but mom is waiting

in the kitchen

oh no

Shit

Fuck

FUCK

out of luck

No friends

No going to

the Brehne’s party

Your life

is Over.

Run upstairs

text message

romance

long-distance

girlfriend on

the telephone

7:00

Dad is home

uncomfortable dinner,

Mimi cooked

(always seems to be

pea-soup and ham

on nights like tonight.)

Long shower

almost an hour

then go and sit

in Lucas’ room.

11:30 out the window,

Rooftop vigil

sit and think

and watch the cars roll by

Maybe cry

Those high-school days

sure were savage,

but when the weekend came,

and it was finally over,

we

Ruled the World.