Andy Roberts
Youth
Curtis Massey is nine years old.
Gregg Allman hair and a red
mouth that hangs open,
says nothing.
Curtis Massey on a swing
in the park at night
hanging out with teenagers.
His mother is dead and he lives
with his three older brothers who
pass him joints, feed him acid.
As the swing descends,
Curtis Massey passes the joint
to his right.
The swing squeaks
as the joint
makes the rounds.
None of them want
more than they’ve got
right now.
Moonlight,
a few leaves left
on the oak tree
above.