a true story

my hands
wipe water over the memory
of when mother
lit into the state-lady
after her son
was lost to her--

the state-lady said
mother was using.

YOU LIED IN COURT
mother said,
mother called state-lady
a fucking bitch
in front of everyone.

the memory gets soggy.
at first it stayed with me
so clearly
but now it's soggy.

seven days later
a three-year-old waits
for a mother
who doesn't show up.

I WANT MY MOMMY
the kid says
and cries
all the way
to his foster home.
this is the memory
that stays with me now.

you can lie to me
all you want,
but the truth
always
comes out.

a day later
i get a piece of paper
that says POSITIVE
next to cocaine and THC.

Dammit,i think...
well...at least it's not Meth.