Decatur

Here, learned how to use the past tense.

Here, called “a jackal.”

Here, the desultory woman smoking behind the coffee shop any given hour.

Here, astrological talk and a side of whiskey and beer.

Here, mildest of annihilations.

Here, considered what has fed me, this diet of magic, waste, dead cells I thought were nutrients.

Here, a whole world parts.

Here, breaks open.

Here, I thought, Just count me as one of your dead.