I grew up in a generation
of wear "no all-black" at school
because it announced a mental state;
but years prior, we walked
miles home alone at nine and
arriving to an empty house
was a parent's concern
always for me
an empty house,
even when mother didn't work
siblings older
moving out moving on...
when she finally left dad, she left me
from states away he ordered
things required to live a life
added me to cards and accounts
neither of us thinking
I existed alone in a house
that once held five
I would finish two years of school
in three, meet a boy, live a life
bury too many too soon
wear all black
