No one was impressed.

When sick,
I remember being a child.
I remember the coughing,
trouble breathing, and
days indoors.

The girls thought I was gross,
spitting phlegm into trash cans
during gym.

The teacher still make me run laps,
I would do my best,
but I would start coughing
and would spit into the trash cans
every lap.

No one was impressed.

Free Dog

Does the black bitch
know she’s free?
From the look in
her eyes—no.
Head over a tailgate
‘free’ sign—
taped below;
bright-eyed, big
floppy-eared fool,
‘bout to go home
with a new name.