because it let me

rage can keep a lion at bay

for a while

that place up there

in front

heals if you can get there

touch

a more sensitive side of himself

using other peoples words

there is safety in numbers

and riddles

and poems

stories

tell that story

you should write it down

not all memories need to be remembered

living with hank on 36th and 11th overlooking the gas station

single bed

an old tv

bag of clothes

hank was a bartender at the holland

stood about five foot two inches

gay and balding

puerto rican

60 at the time

sweet and drunk

sassy

tall tony had told me hank had a room for rent

so i inquired

and moved in

tyler moved in a few weeks after

never met him before until he was on the couch one day

just out of jail

needing a place to stay

later he sad to me when we were alone

that hank would stand in the doorway of his room

facing the couch where tyler slept

fondling himself

crazy things happen all the time on 10th said tyler

i wasn’t crazy about hank

but