A Poem for Pete Who Killed a Man

Where have you gone stars! Say something for Pete’s sake will you!

He is panting and lapping at the water like a dehydrated wombat

bobbing his head back and forth as if he might die.

Well, I lie and say they are there, right there. The buds

in the sinister hand hanging from the well-decorated tree like a curtain.

No not a shower curtain you big oaf haven’t you seen enough water today

any more water and you will be like a blowfish

oh my bye bye popped and poot-pooting through the air.

No not like a balloon Pete!

But you may be on to something.

I don’t know what, but neither do you so even steven.

No Pete, steven is dead on lot eleven in the Badlands

parking lot. You buried him you bad man! fat ham!

I regret this

but his ears are full of wax

so I light the candle and we burn through the night

Pete asking his questions, me, trying to answer.